Lee was under no delusions that Luka was entirely satisfied by the response he had got. No words, diplomatic or otherwise, would wash on the career soldier right now. Still, he should consider himself lucky that Lee was in a mood to be the peacemaker.
Lee turned his gaze again to the bloodstained bag, which now smelled quite appalling. Honestly, what had Luka been thinking making the kill so messy?! Lee had expected more efficiency, and a cooler head, from someone with Luka's experience. When he'd been presented with the little gift, Lee had been in half a mind to give it back and tell Luka to clean up his own mess, but right now he wasn't sure he could trust him with even that much. When he had been at war, Lee had seen just about every way that it was possible to destroy a human being, physically and otherwise; and thanks to his photographic memory, Lee could still recall every last spatter of blood, every last scream, and every last agonized expression. Even by the standards of global conflict, the Pan-Arabian War had been an ugly affair, and by the time it had ended all sides had long since stopped playing by the rules. Lee was not made of stone, not back then at least. He understood all too well the rage and revulsion of seeing friends and comrades have the horrors of war inflicted on them, but through all of it, Lee had never been so sloppy. and he had been as certain as he could be that Luka was cut from the same cloth. Perhaps he should reconsider...
Luka's blunder would need rectifying at once. Fortunately, thanks to the Black Protocol the entire complex was near deserted. Before Luka arrived, Montoya had informed Lee that the upper levels of The Pit were now secure. Lee still had plenty of time.
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Kusanagi was lucky that Nikolai was in such a good mood. If not, he would be less inclined to put up with the fuss she was making as she treated his wound. He did not see why she insisted on bothering with it. Better to just let it alone. Nikolai had endured far worse, the evidence of which was written all across his body. It would heal on its own, and Nikolai would become stronger for it still, just like all the other wounds from before now.
But no... 'Nikolai must sit down!', 'Nikolai must stay still!', 'Nikolai must not laugh in case he makes the bleeding start again!', 'Nikolai must not stick his finger in the hole just to prove it doesn't hurt!' That really had made the bleeding start again, and Kusanagi had not laughed along with the others.
It did not do for the other Free Men to see him being scolded. They were all fiercely loyal to Nikolai, many of them having been pit slaves, or worse, lone Inmates who were under no-ones protection, before he had found them and raised them higher. He had taken care to choose people that had suffered like he had, and had emerged stronger for it. As such, they all seemed to share an understanding that required no words. However, despite their brotherhood, Nikolai always kept in mind that his Free Men were dangerous. Forged, like him, from pain and madness. They may be grateful to him for his charity. However, their loyalty was ultimately based on one thing...
'They follow me because I am strong. In their company, I must never look weak.'
"Why so quiet, Sneaky Man?" he said, mockingly, to Acolylte, who had barely spoken or even moved while they'd been in the air. "Does the flying make you dizzy? Must I carry you to bed again?"
He still didn't trust Acolyte, no matter what Kusanagi said. In his time in The Pit, Nikolai had known many who claimed to follow a more peaceful, enlightened path. That sort went one of two ways. They either died quickly, or they killed whenever it suited them, which showed their true colours. Not only was this 'Acolyte' one of the latter, but he had allied himself with the Aryans, and the Squeal Pig, who Nikolai could tell for what kind of monster he was with one look. Kusanagi should have let him die, and any Man who joined forces with such, for whatever reason, was not to be trusted at all.
The Free Men didn't like him either, and they were enjoying Nikolai's teasing of him.
"We should call you the Sleepy Man, not the Sneaky Man." Nikolai continued "Niklaus! Bring warm milk for Sleepy Man!" he bellowed, his taunt met by a gale of laughter from the rest.
