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[If there was one thing Mondo hated about this place, it was how often it rained. It was a petty complaint, sure, but considering how often this place was nearly drowned in rain, he certainly had reason to complain. Rain would ruin his hair and riding in the rain was more difficult than it really should be. That made commuting to his job a pain in the ass, and that was the last thing he needed.

Yes, Mondo had a job. And it had nothing to do with being a Super High School Level delinquent. He's been here for long enough to get settled in - two months, last time he checked - but he still isn't quite used to being alive after all that happened in Hope's Peak. Mondo doesn't like thinking about it, so he quite simply doesn't think about it.

It's later in the evening and he's returning home from another day on the job; working in carpentry is tiring but it's worthwhile and he really does enjoy it despite the long hours and minimal pay. It's not like he has to support anyone other than himself, after all.]

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Ishida... Yeah, I guess it does, huh?

[Mondo laughed awkwardly, not really sure what else to do with this strange version of Ishimaru. Clearly he was created as a defense mechanism to cope with Mondo's death, but what the hell is he supposed to do with Ishida now that he's here?]

So uh... I guess you just recently woke up here, huh?

{That means...]

Wait, you died!?

...Yeah. We...we're dead, yeah.

[His expression tightens considerably at that, his body tensing again.]

Like I said, we had a way to talk to you, but one of those stupid motherfuckers inside the school stole it - it pissed me off, it was like losing you all over again! I-I guess that's why what happened next happened at all; I got a letter that night, saying that whoever'd sent it had found some place in the school that looked like a way out - somewhere they could see the outside. They didn't want me to talk to anyone, to keep Monobear from finding out, but I was told to meet them in one of the rooms we got unlocked upstairs, before the wake-up call went out.

I...It looks like a really fuckin' obvious trap now, I know that! But I didn't know what the fuck else to do, and I thought the others got the same letter - but there was no one else there when I got there, and I thought I'd wait for them for the next ten minutes or so, you know how those bastards are always late...

Well, I guess someone came in behind me and they...they hit me. They had some sort of weapon, I couldn't really see it in the fucking dark but it was really heavy, they caught me in the head and I...guess I dropped then. My memory of it really sucks from then on, I don't know if he was more awake than I was at that point or if I was just really dazed or what! But there was blood everywhere and I know I fought back, and they tried to take that fucking letter from me and just ended up ripping the shit out of it but they didn't seem to care because they got most of it. I tried to get up but they had another go at me; they hit my left wrist to get me to stop blocking them and I'm pretty sure they managed to fuck up my wrist and kill the shit out of my watch in the same swing, I could feel both of them break.

Then they hit me in the head again and I...blacked out. And then I woke up here.

[Mondo is silent, listening to Ishida speak. He isn't sure when he started shaking, but he's fully aware of it by the time Ishida finishes. He clenches and releases his hands repeatedly, trying to get some of the stress out. He wants nothing more than to figure out who the bastard was that did it and rearrange their face (unless they're a girl, but he doubts a girl would be strong enough to break Ishimaru's wrist, even with a weapon... unless it was Sakura, but he doubts she would ever do something like that). He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath to try to calm himself.]

I'm so sorry. I... don't know how you were able to talk to me 'cause I certainly don't remember that, but I'm sorry you lost that. I'm sorry you died. Shit, I'm sorry all that happened to you guys.

[Clearly this is some part of Ishimaru - there's no way both of them could die like that otherwise.]

But... you're here now. You're safe. Nothing like that'll ever happen again.

[For a moment Ishida seems unsure of what to do with those reassurances; he can tell that Mondo's upset with what he's been told, but he doesn't know what to do about it.

He nods eventually, though, the gesture determined.]

Yeah, yeah! I know! Everything'll be okay here - I've been here for a few days, and it's kind of been a trip because I wasn't expecting this sort of shit, but no one's tried to pull anything stupid!

And besides, you're here - it's...it's really fuckin' good to see you! So don't worry, okay, you don't have anything to be sorry for!

[It's good to see that Ishida's determined about something, and even better to see that he's not hung up over his own death. Mondo certainly was, but more than that, he was hung up over Fujisaki's. He still isn't okay with it. But that's not the point, at least Ishida isn't stuck on it.]

Yeah, but it sucks that it happened to you. I would never wish that on fucking Togami, much less on someone I actually like.

[After a moment of thought, he reaches out to clap a hand to Ishida's shoulder.]

Well, it's nice to meet you, Ishida! I'm glad someone was there to look out for Ishimaru after I... y'know.

[...shit, Ishimaru. Ishida's been gone longer than usual; he should probably at least go check on the idiot, make sure he's okay and hasn't just decided to swallow the contents of the medicine cabinet while Ishida's been out - or, you know, that he's not just doing that creepy thing he does where he just kind of stands in the middle of some random room staring at nothing...

...actually.]

Yeah, it's been great - look, I'll be back in like an hour, if that works? I've got something for you!

Ah, yeah? Alright. I'll be here, okay?

[Whatever it is, it sounds kind of urgent. Mondo nods and moves to take a seat on the couch, gesturing to the door.]

I'll see you in an hour, then!

[Ishida leaves without saying anything further, quite simply turning and leaving as briskly as possible without flat-out bolting - it's less through worry or nerves and more through sheer excitement. The apartment they've been staying in is less than ten minutes from here, so he's not concerned about the timeframe he'd given; he'd overshot intensely because he has no idea how lucid Ishimaru's going to be today. Some days he's all right, and he'll respond without too much prompting; other days Ishida really can't be fucked to bother with him outside of making sure he doesn't accidentally off himself somehow, because he can't even be sure that Ishimaru is hearing him or able to understand anything he's saying. Those latter days are disturbing as hell, given that Ishimaru will go through the daily motions but otherwise won't be responsive, nor will he eat anything; there have been more of them lately, now that the novelty of their new surroundings seems to have worn off.

As it turns out, he's not terribly lucid today, either, but at the very least Ishimaru actually reacts when he storms in, soaked with rain and turning the air blue about it; it's clear that Ishida's startled him, and he eventually finds him with his back pressed up against the wall in the hallway at the top of the stairs, one of those blunt weapons in his hands, as Ishida had been trying to teach him to do. He's not sure whether he's more proud of him for actually listening and moving to defend himself, or just...kind of disturbed at how goddamn insane he looks in the process and how quickly he slackens and stops defending himself once he sees who it is. The effect is unnerving, whatever spark had been present in Ishimaru's eyes deadening immediately, and Ishida tries not to feel too agitated with him for it as he makes his way up the stairs.]

It's about time you listened to me! Now come on, we're going outside.

[That's punctuated with an abrupt huff of irritation when Ishimaru just kind of blinks at him. He genuinely can't tell if Ishimaru is withdrawing again or just not wanting to go, but either way, it's annoying the hell out of him; he reaches out, grabbing Ishimaru by the wrist to lead him down stairs, and he's quick to get snappish when that's met with a soft noise of protest.]

Yeah, yeah, you don't want to fucking go, what else is new. It's worth it, you just have to stop being so fucking stubborn!

[Another soft complaint is pretty much all he got for his effort; he sighs before sharply tightening his grip, ignoring the squirming that gets in response.]

Hey. Hey, come on - you know I wouldn't fucking lie to you, it'll be okay! I...look, I found a way for you to see kyoudai again!

[He's somewhere between relieved and wanting to just roll his eyes at the fact that that, finally, seems to get Ishimaru's attention.]

[Ishimaru isn't sure whether he would have preferred a complete stranger breaking in or dealing with Ishida when he's in one of his moods; he's rougher than he usually is with him today - it's not the same as guiding Ishimaru one place or another when he loses himself for a while, and it isn't the same as when he tries to encourage him to go out. This is far more aggressive, on the verge of threatening, and Ishimaru isn't even sure what he's done to warrant this sort of crazy - he can think of many reasons why he doesn't want to go out, the most pressing being "because it's raining" and "because I'm not up to it - before Ishida finally explains himself.

That explanation stops him cold; he almost doesn't want to believe him. The last few times he's heard that sort of thing have ended in disaster; his first thought is that Ishida is just going to use this against him as well, to get him to do whatever he wants. His ability to trust people has dropped sharply since the incident in Hope's Peak; he's hesitant to believe anything dealing with getting to see Mondo again. But he can't deny that the idea also brings with it the first surge of hope he's felt in a long time; after a moment he lets any resistance he was putting up go slack, and he allows Ishida to lead him downstairs and out of the apartment.

Granted, Ishida is muttering the entire way and he swears profusely once they're out of the apartment and back in the rain, but that's clearly just how things are going to be.

He can't bring himself to be bothered by the way that Ishida refuses to let go of his hand, even when they're in public; for the time being he's content to be led, especially since he has no idea where they're going. They aren't leaving the residential area of town; after a while he has to ask, forcing the words out as though his body has quite simply forgotten how to speak entirely.]

Where...where did you find him, anyway?

[Ishida just shakes his head at that, though he does turn to smirk back at him, his words enthusiastic.

You'll see - we're almost there!

Ishimaru still doesn't see when they stop in front of one of those apartments; Ishida still isn't letting go of his hand, reaching out with the opposite one to bang roughly on the door. There's not much to do but wait, once that's done - well, wait and kind of look at Ishida oddly when he mutters something about being early, anyway.]

Hey, I thought you said you'd need an hour--

[But Mondo cuts himself off there, staring as he opens the door. It's almost surreal to see Ishida and Ishimaru standing side-by-side. The uniform is the same, the haircut is the same, the eyes are the same (though one set is on fire), and Mondo can't do anything for a moment but stare. He opens his mouth, closes it. Opens it again. He's trying to find something to say that won't sound retarded as hell, but he's definitely not doing a good enough job.]

C-come on in.

[He fumbles over the words more than he'd care to admit and steps back, allowing them both entrance to his apartment. He hasn't missed the way Ishida's keeping hold of Ishimaru's hand, or the rather dazed look Ishimaru's wearing. He just kind of wants to hug them both and never let go, but that seems a bit ridiculous, doesn't it?]

Kyoudai...

[He's addressing Ishimaru, but after a moment he glances at Ishida to include him as well - he's not sure what to call Ishida, but since Ishida seemed to think calling him that was alright, he might as well use it for him too - then he starts again.]

Kyoudai, I'm so glad to see you. Both of you. I mean, the circumstances are shitty and fuck, I wish you hadn't-- Never mind. You're here now and you're safe here. You guys can stay with me! If... if you want, that is.

[He rubs the back of his neck awkwardly. Man, this is way more awkward than he would have assumed. He finally reaches out to squeeze Ishimaru's shoulder, forcing a grin.]

I've missed you.

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