Wounds don't need to heal as long as we do (Flower & Prima Fauna)

[ChampionOfTheMorningStar]

Neal smiled at Heito and ran a hand through his hair. "I draw, write poetry, -bad poetry- I paint sometimes... though not very well, I can play the guitar and sing but only when I'm alone... Does working out count? Even if it's required?" He looked around the office for inspiration. "I'm slow at developing hobbies and, firefighting was my life for awhile... What about you? Number man with an x-wife x-rat-dog and kids? Do you have hobbies?" He scooted the chair closer with his young between his teeth eyes staring at his leg in the concentration of pushing the chair. He made it to the edge of the desk and pulled closer using his had, expression dropping back to neutral.

 

[Selki Seven]

Heito remained upside down as he watched the graphs and numbers swirl and dance around in his head trying to find the missing puzzle piece. He looked over at Neal for a moment as he spoke and then back at the graphs with a nod.


"Very artistic. And no poem is a bad poem. They are all works of art from within an individuals mind. The mind is an amazing thing, thus the art that comes from within is also amazing." He smiles then sighs and continues.


"Hobbies?" He chuckles. "What hobbies? Does sitting in my office on weekends studying numbers count as one? I used to have some, when I was younger. I sing sometimes. Cooking is a fun thing for me. I used to Run marathons and my folks had me take up golf, but what kind of sport is that? I got kicked off the team after falling asleep, several times, while waiting for my turn." Heito smirks and moves to sit up on the desk with his legs dangling. The blood rushed to his head and he was starting to feel dizzy. The song "Just the Way You Are" by Bruno Mars comes up and Heito starts to partially sing along.

 

[ChampionOfTheMorningStar]

"Golf? good god. Well you have to watch movies or Tv? that counts on some level... You run? I-" Neal was about to say that he used to run. Though for some reason it seemed like a bad idea to him. Heito hadn't asked the questions, he seemed to ignore the crutches at all costs. Neal chewed on his lip and after a moment decided that he could answer the questions. "- used to run." He looked out the window. He felt a twinge nothing more, nothing to make him pull the shades.

 

[Selki Seven]

Heito chuckles and shakes his head before looking over at Neal.


"I usually just use the movies as background sound. It gets pretty quiet round the house." He sighs for a moment then smiles again. "You used to run? Nice. Just for fun or for sport?" Heito wasn't blind to the crutches, but he didn't see it was necessary to bring up any disabilities. He seemed to be getting along fine with what he was given. Heito smiles and takes a break from numbers and turns a bit to look at Neal. He saw him looking at the window and then looks back at Neal.


"Are the windows bothering you?"

 

[ChampionOfTheMorningStar]

"No- I'm okay, It's nothing really. I promise." he looked at Heito and gave him a shy smile. "I just don't love tall buildings... I live on a second floor apartment only because it was the lowest I could get at the time... Take me on a cliff and I will be A-OKAY empire state building? I will cry." He smiled. "If you would close the shades I mean I wouldn't object.. It's not necessary yet though..." He fidgeted with his pants ever so slightly. "And I ran to keep in shape and for training and if your in a burning building you want the person coming in to get you to be able to book it right? I love movies, watch far to many and not just for background."

 

[Selki Seven]

Heito hops off his desk and slowly makes his way around the room to shut the blinds. He makes his way back around and takes a seat on the desk again and smiles.


"I suppose I just haven't found the right movie." He smiles and his feet sway off the edge of the desk. "So, you were pretty into your firefighting. That is admirable." Heito claps his hands together quickly then puts them down by his side. Neal was a good guy and reliable.


"So, are you in a relationship at the moment?" This was fun for Heito and he enjoyed having someone else to talk too other than coworkers and his ex-wife. He'd talk to his kids, but the ex never let them talk over the phone for longer than 5 minutes each, then she'd be asking for more money. It made him sick, but until they were 18 there was nothing he could do.

 

[ChampionOfTheMorningStar]

Neal laughed. "No god no- the last one ended like any war and I've been on a few dates since but once people see these guys." He patted the crutches in a fond way "they either run in the other direction screaming 'I can't Handel it!' Or pick me up and attempt to save me an sweep me off my feet also mangling to treat me like glass at the same time. That's a lot to do all at once!" He smiled at Heito "neither is something I would like. So no, no relationships. You? Besides a failed marriage?"


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Selki Seven]

"I'm sorry to hear that. I don't see why people should treat you any different because you have crutches. You seem to be doing pretty well on your own as it seems." Heito smiles and shakes his head at his question.


"I've yet to find someone that doesn't like me just for the money. Besides, it seems like most women are too much drama and high maintenance. I tried a few times after the marriage, mostly rebounds, and nothing ever clicked with those women." Heito slips down to sit on the floor against the desk and leans his head back to look at the ceiling.


"Yea, I believe to be done with the dating scene. Only thing that can love me for me is the numbers and graphs." He looks over and up at Neal and smirks.

 

[ChampionOfTheMorningStar]

Neal smiled and nodded at Heito's comment on his crutches. "Oh so you have noticed them? I was worried you were blind." He smiled and looked up at the charts and graphs. "well if your gonna love make it complicated. That's what I say. I have gone on a blind date now and again, but only those two reactions so serious dating is sort of out of the picture at this point. Some day maybe, the Martha will pick the right awkward blind date..." Neal looked at the Graphs and charts again. "So what is all this exactly? Besides a Eco- science majors nightmare?"

 

[Selki Seven]

Heito looks up at the window and sighs with a shake of his head.


"Those..." He sighs again. "...they are the budgets for the entire company for the past 3 months. All the numbers and equations go together to create those. However, something is wrong. I believe one of the sector heads is trying to play the company for a fool and run off with a big lump of cash. If I can narrow it down, and put all my suspicions aside because this has been happening for a while, then I can get this person. Afterwards, I will probably try to leave the field, move to another career. I still haven't decided if I am brave enough for that though." Heito closes his eyes for a moment.


"Those numbers have been my nightmare for the past half year."

 

[ChampionOfTheMorningStar]

"hmm." Neal scooped up a graph, he couldn't deal with numbers printed out on a sheet very easily. He traced the path of the graph with his finger and frowned. "You give the company the same amount of money every month?" He looked again. "Cause it looks like the spending doesn't equal the out put, the request the same amount every month but don't need it? Shouldn't you only have the amount you need?" He looked it over again. "Oh but look the profit increased on months that they didn't spend as much." Then he frowned. "Whoever makes your graphs sucks at color scheme."

 

[Selki Seven]

Heito looked up at Neal then knelt beside him to look at the graphs. He was pointing out some very good points and Heito takes a closer look at the sector head to see where the most money is being lost and sighs.


"Maybe you should have this job." Heito stands and looks at a couple papers on his desk, also looking at the withdrawal papers her drew up for the people he was firing in the morning. One, the sector head of Network Management. Heito thought for a moment and sighed when he poked the paper on the table and nods.


"We've found him." He smiles and gives a loud chuckle before walking over to Neal and hugging him tightly. Months of searching and he finally found the perp. Heito sat down on the desk and nodded with a big inhale. Now, how would he go about this and he chuckles at Neal.


"If they want something pretty, they call a designer. Want something functional, come to us." He smiles and looks at Neal.


"Thank you."

 

[ChampionOfTheMorningStar]

Neal humphed and rolled his eyes. "The world should be pretty or what's the point? and You're welcome, do you wanna get out of here? and by that I mean can I go?" Neal gave an easy smile. "Tomorrow is Saturday, so I think we have plans?" Neal got to his feet and looked over at Heito. "Glad I could help Mr. Business bu your job is in safe hands since I have a store to care for." Neal shifted his crutches to make sure he had a good grip.

 

[Selki Seven]

"It should be, but it isn't always that way. And of course. I apologize for keeping you out so late." Heito smiles. "But I really did enjoy your company." Heito stood by Neal to escort him to the exit and smiled.


"Yes. Dinner." Heito stuck his hands in his pockets and started walking as soon as Neal was ready. Tomorrow would be an easy day and the company would be back on track with a brand new supervisor in charge of a couple of the sectors. He was sorry for the families he would be harming, but not sorry that the fathers and sons of families are out of a job because of their greed.

 

[ChampionOfTheMorningStar]

Neal walked with Heito to the elevator he leaned up on the wall again trusting Heito to know which button to push to go down. It was his elevator after all. Neal sighed and closed his eyes. Glad that Martha was opening the store again today because he was exhausted, he also felt a muscle spasm coming on and he hadn't thought to bring any meds with him... He peeled an eye at Heito. "I don't know where you live so it may be out of your way but could I interest you to split a cab home?"

 

[Selki Seven]

Heito looked at the Elevator and pressed the down arrow and waited for it to come up. He wasn't interested in cleaning the office up, because he knew he would be coming back here in the morning just to make a mess again, so he figured he'd wait until then. The elevator came and Heito walked into it and pressed the number 1 and leaned against the back corner of the elevator with a smile.


"Sure. I will take care of the fare since you were so gracious to visit me at the office." He smirks and looks at the numbers as they declined and sighs. For some reason he was a little sad that the night was ending, but he was exhausted all the same, mentally and emotionally. The office drama made him age at least 5 years for every hour he stayed in the building. Though, the new friendship with Neal made the office seem less and less strenuous.

 

[ChampionOfTheMorningStar]

"Good, I can hail it I rule at hailing cabs." The elevator dinged and Neal headed to where he knew the door would be. The rain had picked up and it was pouring like crazy at this point. Neal watched his step as he made his way to the curb watching the yellow cabs zip around the busy street of a nighttime city block. He tipped his face to the sky and closed his eyes. He really loved the rain, nothing burned when it was raining no chaos just peace.

 

[Selki Seven]

"All Hail the Cab Meister." Heito smirks and follows Neal out. He could already see the rain from the door and almost hear it beating on the building and glass and splashing around. Rain was comforting, and soothing. Heito walked outside, only after stopping for a moment and looked at Neal enjoying the rain and couldn't help but have a big smile on his face. Something about Neal was just..... he wouldn't say attractive.... but interesting. Heito's smile was plastered on his face and he walked outside to stand by Neal and look at the rain and sky. Heito looked down at Neal and chuckled and watched him as they stood in the rain.

 

[ChampionOfTheMorningStar]

Neal smiled at Heito and looked out over the road he shifted to one crutch and held up the other to get a cabs attention and it headed his way. "I think rain is one of the most peaceful things in the world. It's beautiful." He smiled at the cabbie that pulled his cab into the curb and put his crutch down and reached for the door handle. "In the Rain the Pavement shines like silver" He quoted the show tune shamelessly, and seamlessly. "Les Mis, I always felt like Epione didn't have it so fair, all her songs are so beautiful to. But all strangely about rain. 'Don't you fret, M'sieur, I don't feel any pain A little fall of rain Can hardly hurt me now' " he quoted again smiling as he slipped into the cab. "I must seem like a walking prototype at the moment."

 

[Selki Seven]

Heito looks over at Neal as he gets into the cab and smirks as he quoted the song and chuckles. He loved hearing Neal talk, even if he didn't understand. Heito got into the cab beside Neal and looked over at him. Him talking about things he enjoyed and smiling.


"You seem perfectly fine to me." He said softly and smiles then looks away quickly outside and watches the rain fall down the window. Why did Neal make Heito feel so happy all the time? He didn't know what else to say except occasionally look at Neal with a smile then outside at the rain.

 

[ChampionOfTheMorningStar]

The cab ride went by in comfortable silence until they stopped at Neal's place he let himself out and bent over as much as he could to look in the window at Heito.


"So tomrow? Burgers? should I meet you there or here? it's a short walk from my apartment, if you like, the weather is supposed to be better." Neal looked up at the clouds, and back at Heito, waiting on an answer.

 

[Selki Seven]

Heito leaned out the window when Neal got out and smiled with a nod.


"I will come by here. It will give me a chance to drive. Car hasn't been out of the garage for a few months now." He chuckles and winks. "See you then, Neal." Heito sits back in the seat, and gives the cabbie his address and the cab leaves. It was a bit of a ride to his apartment, which is why he usually took the subway, but it was enjoyable. The rain on the window, and the excerpt from the song made him smile the entire way home. He got out of the cab, paid the fare, then went into his apartment and stripped on his way through the house to get into something dry.

 

[ChampionOfTheMorningStar]

Neal flopped on his bed and pulled his close off. He decided he would sleep in his boxers since he just really didn't have the energy to find Pj's. He whipped a hand over his face and pulled a bottle of muscle relaxant out of the drawer and took it dry since he felt particularly stiff today. He fumbled the covers over himself and got settled on his back. He threw an arm over his eyes and barely had time to make a mental note to rent Les Mis and convince Heito to watch it before he fell asleep.

 

[Selki Seven]

Heito eventually got into his black silk pajama bottoms and settled into his favourite chair with a glass of red wine and the music channel playing in the background. He sighs, relaxed and comfortable, until his phone rings. With a groan, Heito reaches over and picks up his phone to look at the caller ID. His ex-wife.


"Hello." Heito closes his eyes and takes a sip from his glass then swallows and he looks off to the side. His eyes burrow and he sits up quickly. "What are you talking about? No. I said n-" Heito stops, placing his glass on the coffee table and starts rubbing his forehead, then shakes his head. "Fine. At least let me talk to the kids. Alone." Heito sighs and waits for the kids to get on and groans again.


"Hello, Katie. Yea, I miss you too, baby girl. Is your momma there? Ok. Good. Honey, I've tried seeing you and talking. I know. No, I have sent cards for every season and they always get forwarded back to me. Don't worry. I will see you again. In the meantime, you and your brother take care of each other. And make sure to get good grades. I don't want to see another report card with a D. Yea, let me speak to your brother. I love you, Katie Bug." Heito leans back again. Talking to his kids always relaxed him enough to not get into a fist fight with his ex. His son came on and Heito smiled.


"Jeremiah, how are you, son? Oh, really? I'm proud of you. I wish I could be there to see it. I-Jeremiah, I can't. Your mother won't let me. I know. If you can find a way to mail the performance to me, do it. You still have my address, don't you? I've not moved. Yep, still at the apartment." Heito chuckles and then lets out a laugh. "No. No girlfriends. Yea, I've made a new friend. I think you'd both get along. He owns a book store near the office. Yea? Alright, I will see what I can do." Heito chuckles again. "Alright, keep up the good work. Be good to your sister and just.... follow your dreams, son." His wife got on the phone and Heito sighed.


"Yes. Alright, bye." He hung up and quickly drank the rest of the wine and put the phone on charge. He didn't even feel like showering and got into bed to sleep. At least tomorrow would be good again.

 

[ChampionOfTheMorningStar]

Neal woke in the middle of the night with a muscle spasm in his left leg. One of the endless things that were a part of his life now. He fumbled an extra relaxant from his bedside drawer and messaged his thigh. He had several fleeting thoughts about wishing Heito was here to do it for him but he pushed them away before they formed in fear of thinking about what having Heito's hand that far up on his thigh would do to him. He didn't want to think of it.


He did wish he had someone, someone who he trusted when he was like this. He rubbed slower and slower circles as he fell into a fitful sleep.