#-without sparing it a second thought... and Jet is possibly even more peeved about THAT

[true-blue-sonic]

I'd like Silver to meet Jet. He's one of the only personalities Silver would actually clash with and they're both awkward and cocky 14 year old boys. They seem like they would be strong rivals.

I can see Jet be appalled, and with that I mean appalled, that Silver is not only fast, but is specifically fast BECAUSE HE CAN FLY. Because that is Jet's entire shtick: not fast on foot, but making up for that through tools that allow him to race through the air as quickly as Sonic can run. And then some bright-eyed naive optimist from the future has the gall to come in and do the exact same, but without needing to use an Extreme Gear? I can see Jet be highly disdained about it all!

Silver for his part is deeply insulted by Jet being so displeased about his powers, and they would indeed have massive clashes in personality. I think it is indeed exactly because both are cocky and smug about their various skills: these two would be trying to one-up each other all the time when it came to flying! I wonder who would win between the two of them; I think Jet on his Extreme Gear can reach speeds rivalling Sonic's running, but in most games Silver seems to be able to do the same while flying (e.g. Sonic never being able to catch up to him in Generations, even while boosting). So I have no idea who would turn out as victor between them! Though, Silver always has the "at least I can fly without needing to use a toy, bet you're jealous of that huh" card if he loses... Yeah, I can't foresee them being very good friends!

[nerdyskeleton]

I'm trying to sleep and can't stop thinking of Simon reacting to Nahyuta surviving (but being injured in) an assassination attempt. (Because I'm a terrible person at heart.)

OHHHHH MAN nothing like good old angst to greet you in the morning. I named this document “hurt nahyuta more”

Simon had been cross with Nahyuta all day. They had spokenyesterday before Simon had gone to bed, and perhaps it was the grueling timedifference or the fact that it had been two long, aching months since they hadseen each other, but they were both fairly hostile on the phone. Simon knew hehad been irrationally angry when Nahyuta sadly sighed he wouldn’t have the freedomto go to Los Angeles or have Simon come to see him for at least another month.

Long distance was difficult, and it was especially difficultfor two incredibly busy, emotionally-stunted prosecutors.

And as they had no logical way to deal with being angry witheach other for stupid reasons, Simon and Nahyuta had mutually agreed to take afew days of silence. An important court case of Simon’s would be over, andNahyuta would have a few hours to himself eventually, right? So it was rather ashock that Nahyuta’s number lit up Simon’s phone screen. He debated aboutanswering it, finally picking up at the last second.

“What do you want, Sad Monk?”

The other side of the line was nothing but static for a fewminutes, until someone responded. It was not Nahyuta.

“Is that how you always greet my son?” Queen Amara asked.Simon heard shouting in the background.

“On this day, yes.” Perhaps he should show some more respectto the woman. While it was a little strange she had called him from Nahyuta’sphone, it had also happened once before; she called just to chat, and it was oneof the funniest and most intimidating phone calls of Simon’s life.

“May I ask why I have been graced with this phone call, YourMercifulness?” he inquired, getting up from his desk. He did a quickcalculation, noting that it was just past 8 in the morning in Khura’in. QueenAmara must be bored if she was resorting to calling her son’s scary boyfriendthis early in the morning.

“Ah,” she sighed, “I have some…bad news.”

Simon paused, mid-filing away for his upcoming case. “Whatis it?”

“Prosecutor Blackquill, when I tell you this, I ask that yourefrain from outbursts of any kind.”

“Ma’am, what are you talking about?”

She drew in a deep breath and announced, “There was anattempt on Nahyuta’s life this morning.”

Something rather heavy landed on his boot. He looked down,finding the file he had been holding suddenly on the ground, its contentsscattered about. Had he dropped it?

“I don’t understand. What are you telling me?”

“It’s a lot to process, Simon. He’s alive…for now. But Ithink it might be best if you come to Khura’in within the next few days.Nahyuta is resilient, and the medical staff is highly trained, yet…”

“I’ll leave tonight.”

She asked him to give her an approximation of when he wouldbe there, and then she hung up. Simon sent Taka on her way back home beforeimmediately going to Edgeworth’s office. Dammit, the one time Simon needed hisoverworked boss to actually be there at nine at night, and he wasn’t! He calledEdgeworth’s personal number, feeling foolish and hot and stressed and on theverge of tears, embarrassingly enough. Edgeworth was clearly peeved, but whenSimon explained what little details he had, the man relaxed. He even said heexperienced a similar situation with Wright, years and years ago. His casewould be given to a different prosecutor, and he would have leave for as longas necessary. Edgeworth went so far as to offer to charter a jet for him, as heonce again stated he infinitely knew whatSimon was feeling.

One unacceptable tear fell as Simon contacted Athena next,going through the whole conversation again with her. She asked if she shouldcome with him, but he said no. It was tempting, but she was the defense on thatcase, so he told her to stay and help take care of Taka.

Simon usually hated the ungodly long flight from LA to Khura’in,but it was especially terrible this time around. His stupid, paranoid self keptimagining unpleasant scenarios. Was he going to be too late? Her Mercifulnesshad cryptically claimed that Nahyuta was still alive “for now.” Was he on theverge of death? Where had he been struck?

Simon hoped to ask her these questions the second he steppedonto the sad patch of asphalt that served as the country’s airport. Instead,battalions of guards greeted him and escorted him to the palace, which madesense – with one royal shot, the others were probably shut up in the palace to bekept safe.

Nahyuta’s mother stood in the grand entrance, pulling Simoninto a surprise hug when he finally got there. Her hands held his cheeks as shetold him, “You look worse than normal.”

Her own complexion was pale and rather blotchy, and herlilac hair no longer had such a glorious shine. “You look much the same, YourMercifulness.”

She huffed a hoarse laugh, and she was leading him down thehallways. She explained along the way that he had originally been at thehospital, but once he was out of immediate danger, Nahyuta had been moved oh socarefully back to the palace for security reasons. There were only a few minorcomplications as they put him back together, thankfully, but the monk had beendrifting in and out of consciousness for the better part of the day.

“I spoke with him earlier today,” Amara said as they reachedthe rooms he was kept in. “It was mostly incoherent, but he knew who I was, aswell as where he was.” She put her hand on the doorknob, but Simon stopped her.

“Where is the assassin now?” Perhaps if he committed amurder here and fled the country, he would be safe from prosecution.

“They killed themselves immediately after realizing Nahyutahad survived the first shot. I’m sorry to say you are unable to deal anypunishments to them. If they were still alive, however,” she said, finallypushing open the door, “you would have first rights.”

The room was noticeably colder. Rayfa sat on a couch next tothe bed, which Simon was doing his damndest not to look at. He could make outthe vague basic shape of Nahyuta, lying motionless there, but he was certainlynot ready to really accept what happened. Amara sat on the edge of the bed andpressed the back of her hand to Nahyuta’s forehead.

She added that he’d been running a high fever for some time.Simon stood by one of the wide windows, asking finally where exactly he’d beenhit. A frazzled looking doctor piped up, telling him he was struck in theabdomen, shattering a few ribs and puncturing a lung. Mother and daughterpraised the Holy Mother out loud, thanking her for sparing Nahyuta’s life. Simonwondered silently (he didn’t have a death wish) why they were praising her, ifthe Holy Mother had allowed it to happen in the first place.

It was so silent, until Queen Amara quietly cooed, “Good morning.”Simon did not turn around, despite Rayfa calling his name. He was not sure howto behave. He’d rather prepared himself to be faced with Nahyuta’s death uponarrival, so now that he needed to actually speak to him? He was not sure whatto say. Especially with his family still surrounding him – they were surelymore important to Nahyuta than Simon was.

Nahyuta croaked out a pitiful, “Mother…” Simon turned just ahair, watching him out of the corner of his eye. Rayfa sat on her knees next tohim, while Amara was still sitting by his waist.

“Skunk Head is here to see you, too, Braid Head,” Rayfasaid. She turned around and beckoned him forward. Simon reluctantly approached.Nahyuta’s eyes were normally that amazing bright green, but they were hazy andunfocused as he looked listlessly towards Rayfa. His eyes slid slowly torespond to Simon’s movements as he came up close. A sleepy, contented, preciouslittle smile formed on Nahyuta’s chapped lips as his eyes closed again. The frazzleddoctor said that he hadn’t been alert for more than few minutes at a timewithin the last few days.

Amara left after another hour, but she instructed the doctorto allow Rayfa and Simon to stay as long as they pleased. The doctorcompromised and said they would need to leave if his condition unexpectedlychanged, and Simon thoroughly did not like that implication.

He and Rayfa, now closer than he ever thought they would be,talked together peacefully. The poor girl burst into tears a few times unexpectedly,so Simon managed to convince her to get some sleep and something to eat.Nahyuta was not going anywhere, he told her. And neither was he, even thoughAmara came by again to insist he eat and go to sleep. He wasn’t leaving thisroom until the healthy glow of his skin returned. Except his boyfriend’sterrifying mother manhandled him and shoved him into his own guest rooms, so hewas able to get some rest.

An intense looking nurse that Simon had seen aroundyesterday came and found him in his rooms early the next morning.

“Prosecutor Sahdmadhi has been awake and alert for the lasthour if you would like to see him,” they said. Simon, vaguely tempted to notlook like a foolish moron, moved as quickly as possible without throwinghimself from the room and running down the hall. He didn’t bother to knock onthe ornate door.

Nahyuta was sat up in bed, looked a little pale still, buthe was smiling with a brightness in his eyes finally. Simon was infinitely glad that the Queen and Princess wereat the Dance of Devotion that morning, as he could commit fully to clinging uncontrollablyto Nahyuta. His hand was a little clammy as it weakly gripped Simon’s own whenhe sat down next to him.

“I don’t want this to happen again,” Simon commanded.  

“Well, I’m sorry to say, yet I have two more assassinationattempts to survive through to beat my mother’s record,” Nahyuta replied. Hisvoice was a little hoarse.

“I hate you,” Simon rasped. He was horrified to feel tearspricking at his eyes.

“As unhappy as I am that you skipped out on that importantcase to come and see me, I am very glad to see you, Simon.”  

He couldn’t speak and instead chose to lean in and holdNahyuta against him. He kissed at his tangled hair, and they stayed like thatfor some time. Simon tried to pull away, but Nahyuta’s grip on him wasconsiderably stronger already.

“There is one positive outcome to this whole ordeal,” Nahyutamurmured into his shoulder.

“What could that be?”

“I saw you far earlier than I thought I would.” He looked upat him, grinning widely.  

“You must be delusional from the pain,” Simon claimed. “The real Nahyuta would never be so kind withme.”

“I’m a changed man, Simon. I saw the light.”

“Please do not make getting shot at a habit, despite thischange for the better.”

“I will try my best.”