Accidental Voice

[redlikecrimson]

[The computer comes on in the middle of what is apparently a phone conversation.]

Yeah. It's good to hear your voice too.

[Aya's voice almost sounds a little pained...saddened.]

I am. I'm...I'm happy.

[He lets out a little laugh.]

I know. I'm sorry.

[A pause.]

You're happy, right? Where you are?

[A longer pause.]

...Take care. I love you, Aya. [The snap of a cellphone being shut then the sounds of being taken apart as the recording ends.]

Comments

1/2

[wasabloodknight]

He doesn't realize the name slip.

[wasabloodknight]

... Ran? Are you alright?

Awwww Ken

[redlikecrimson]

[He stops a moment when he hears Ken's voice.]

Ken?

[wasabloodknight]

You were broadcasting.

[redlikecrimson]

I...oh.

[wasabloodknight]

How's she doing?

[redlikecrimson]

She's happy and safe. It was good to hear her voice.

[wasabloodknight]

I'm glad to hear it.

You never answered my question, you know. If you were alright...

locked

[redlikecrimson]

I'm alright.

[Standard answer.] Where are you?

locked

[wasabloodknight]

Looking over some intel in our room.

locked

[redlikecrimson]

I'll be back after I toss this phone.

locked

[wasabloodknight]

I'll have some tea ready for you.

locked

[redlikecrimson]

Thank you. I'll be there soon.

locked

[wasabloodknight]

Is there anything else you want?

locked

[redlikecrimson]

No. I'm fine. Thank you.

locked

[wasabloodknight]

Is that your usual 'I'm fine', which really translates to 'I don't want to talk about it'?

locked

[redlikecrimson]

It's an "I want to get back home."

locked

[wasabloodknight]

Fair enough.

Locked

[minesprettier]

...you took a loved one's name as well.

[He's surprised, but also concerned.]

locked

[redlikecrimson]

Be there soon.

Locked

[redlikecrimson]

[He's glad Ken told him that this broadcast so he's ready for this.]

My sister.

Locked

[minesprettier]

Am I allowed to know why?

Locked

[redlikecrimson]

When I was eighteen, our parents were murdered. I got my sister out of the house before the house exploded but I was trapped under the rubble and was forced to watch as a car slammed into my sister. She was put into a coma.

I swore revenge and took on her name to remind myself of why I was doing what I did.

Locked

[minesprettier]

[He's quiet for a long moment. Even knowing the little he did from looking into Aya's background hadn't told him this, and it's at once perfectly fitting and hard to imagine.]

Now she's awake and I assume you got your revenge as well. You've accomplished plenty with this work.

Locked

[redlikecrimson]

When I got my revenge, she still wasn't awake. She didn't wake up until months after that. At that time I cut off all contact with her for three years. I'd killed using her name and had continued to kill using her name. I had looked for revenge and it hadn't changed anything.