Homeplot 1/12

[silenttrainbaby]

The rocking of the train felt like it came from inside his bones. Grey knew it by heart. He adjusted easily, he adjusted without thinking anything of it. He moved between the bunks, knowing just where to reach for, what to touch, what bunks to avoid because of splinters, what people didn't like being touched. He stopped at Edgar and Curtis's bunk, peering into both to see if they were there, then if they were awake. He checked Curtis first. Curtis would have answers.

How he came to be here again, he didn't know. How he woke up here when he'd gone to bed with Rat, Grey didn't know. The smells here are harsh on his nose; he'd grown used to being clean. Curtis? Maybe he knew. Maybe they could go together to see Gilliam. His stomach was twisted so tightly it hurt. Gilliam. He'd said goodbye to Gilliam, he'd let him go. He'd let go of this coat, too - it was supposed to be hanging in Yuuko's closet. But he wore it.

Wake up, Curtis. Wake up. They were back on the train.

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[manwiththeknife]

It was like his body hadn't completely shed the train. The rhythm of it, the smells, the heaviness of the air. Those were a part of him, and a few months of comfort wouldn't change that.

When his eyes sprang open, Grey's hand on his arm, it took a long moment for his brain to catch up. They were moving, the tracks rattling under them. The engine pulling them forward.

Bolting upright, Curtis's clamped down tight on Grey's arms with both hands-- Both hands. What the fuck did that mean?

Around them, life in the tail churned on, like it always had, before. Before their misguided revolution. Before Nam's kronol. Before.

They were back, and he felt sick, but part of him... Part of him was almost relieved.

"What the hell happened? Do you--" Do you remember? But he didn't ask it out loud. He couldn't bring himself to.