niceguypose | Overflow Post [Cerealia]

[Lee does what he can to lead them away from the danger, almost sighing in relief that they managed to avoid the arrow. He quickly regains his confidence and his drive as he works his way through the remainder of the ballroom. He doesn't shift his hold at Namine, but his glance does flit towards her from time to time to ensure she is still well.

He doesn't realize the intention of her arm over her shoulder, but he ends up interpreting it as a supportive gesture. It helps to inspire him as he keeps on fighting. To be able to protect someone has always been an important part of his ninja way, and he'll pay any price to protect this new comrade. At her question, the confidence returns to his smile as he glances back at her, and he gives a soft nod.]

I am well! I was only startled for a moment. But do not worry... I am now fully on guard!

[And now, there's just one last group of opponents standing between them and the exit. Lee steels himself as he prepares to deal with them...!]

[The vast majority of the time, when he looks her way, she's focused entirely on the NPCs trailing after them, as if she might keep them at bay by sheer force of will - or maybe just that serious look she's giving them. (And maybe it is a bit of a supportive gesture, that arm - she certainly means to assist him, and if that's by encouraging him, so be it.) That last time, though, when he nods, she does look up at him, sidelong but with her expression softening instantly into a kinder one as she inspects him briefly, as if to ascertain the answer to her question herself. She nods back, a flicker of a smile her acceptance of his claim.]

Good. I'm glad to hear it. [Out of the corner of her eye, she catches sight of that last group and turns, brows lowering and lips pressing together. (Perhaps she ought to watch the front, too.) Quietly, she asks as they near,] Are you going to need to set me down, or--?

[That flicker of a smile is enough to boost his confidence more, as he faces down the enemies. He does contemplate setting Namine down for a moment, but then he shakes his head.]

Do not worry, Namine-san. My youth is at full power... I am ready to take them all on! Please, just hold on!

[He then rushes right at them, and he leaps into the air...]

Konoha Whirlwind!! [And he unleashes a combo of powerful midair kicks while holding onto Namine, kicking his through the crowd and towards the door.]

[Youth? What does 'youth' have to do with anything? Puzzled, despite herself she can't help wondering about it for the brief time that she has to do so. Is that some sort of force, where he comes from? (It doesn't sound like it's a thing, but--)]

[But oh, she probably should be holding on, shouldn't she?] Right-- [She realizes this a moment late, once he's started to rush forward, and quickly she does hold on in a much more literal sense than before, the other arm looping round his shoulders as well, because now is really not the time to be dropped.]

[It's always been strange, seeing someone else's abilities firsthand; she's spent enough time in the memories of some very powerful people to know what they feel like, at least, when they do something amazing, but it was always very much after the fact, always a memory of something that was perhaps a little colored by recollection, a little faded with time. But this is very much not, and, wide-eyed, she can feel the air rushing past them as they sail through it, her own body tensing in anticipation of the inevitable descent as though she's the one who has to stick the landing. And it's not the same thing as doing it herself, not the same thing as seeing it through someone else's eyes, but it's-- a mix of exhilarating and terrifying, somehow, because it's so much realer than she imagined, and not knowing what the outcome will be strains her nerves.]

[And it's then that she realizes with abrupt clarity that she wants to be stronger. But it's too late for that, this time. Instead, breath catching, she holds it, and can only hope that her companion will see them through.]

[Youth has everything to do with everything, at least in Lee's own odd world view.

And for him, the movements are familiar as always. The sensations of jumping through the air, the exhilaration of the action, the feeling of his kicks making contact with his enemies... The only thing new is the warmth of the person he is carrying. The extra weight does not seem to affect him; he's only careful to try to prevent her from being harmed.]

We- we can do this!

[He has soon cleared a path through the enemies, and now he dashes straight towards the front door!]

[Clearly she's primed for an explanation of that particular aspect of his psyche, because she truly hasn't the faintest idea why he would have brought it up to begin with, and in the back of her mind, that curiosity remains. That's something for another time, though. Fortunately for the both of them, her weight is about as negligible as an extra body can be; she's right on the very edge of being too skinny, but it probably makes little difference either way, since he seems surprisingly unbothered by it.]

['We can do this,' he says, as though she were anything more than a burden, and even her relief at having made it this far (as well as being on the ground again) can't cover over the strangeness of hearing something like that. 'You can do this,' she wants to say back.]

[It's out of respect for that 'we' that she doesn't say it, at first - and then over his shoulder she sees that one persistent fellow with the bow lining up another shot. The path ahead may be clear, but-- she doesn't like the idea of taking the risk that her companion might be too focused on getting out to worry about what's going on behind them.]

[Up until now, she's felt - helpless, mostly. Her magic, such as it is, has never been the sort that was meant for the thick of battle, and the other kinds that she could learn have always been beyond her reach - not for lack of talent, but for lack of opportunity to study them. Yet she can't, she's realizing with more and more clarity, let herself be so narrow-minded; surely, surely there must be something she can do.]

[Quite suddenly, she gets an idea.]

... We can do this.

[It's quiet, but firm, somehow. One hand lifting from his shoulder, she frowns at the place directly under the archer's feet. It's always been awfully difficult for her to do what was more commonplace for other Nobodies, to call upon the Darkness and create a portal, and before she wouldn't have expected it to be possible for her to do while being jostled around like this, but-- the darkness begins to take form there where an open portal would cause the bowman to fall right into it--]

[It doesn't work, not really, her concentration too frayed. But the sudden movement of inky, dissipating blackness is enough to make their attacker glance down, the arrow going off its mark, and essentially, the result is the same.]

[That's one less thing to worry about, anyway. Now Lee just has to get them out.]

[That time will surely come, whenever Lee realizes that she does not know what she means by youth. Then she will get an explanation with excessive detail...!

She certainly is one of the lighter burdens to carry, so he moves as nimbly as he can in moving onwards. Lee certainly did notice the incoming attack of the archer, nor Namine's counter. Just the whizzing of the arrow that missed them, and Lee sighed in relief as it passed by without harming either of them. Lee does hear her words, however, and he smiles warmly at that.]

That is the spirit, Namine-san! [It's always a team effort for Lee, and he'll always look out for even small ways in which he's helped by those he fights with. And now, the door looms ahead. Lee rushes right at it.]

Now, the final door stands before us! [And now he starts... powerfully kicking the door, to try to force it open. Hopefully it will happen soon, before the other enemies catch up.]

[Fortunately, she's someone (one of possibly very few people) who would actually want to hear about it in excessive detail, curious thing that she is.]

[There's a bizarre sense of satisfaction in watching that arrow harmlessly fly off somewhere, and it's a feeling she's not at all used to. Her triumphs have always been thoroughly bittersweet up until now, but there's something a lot more palatable about accomplishment without first having been directly responsible for the problem in the first place. (Although perhaps she still is, and he'd have had less fighting to do without her, but--)]

[It's still nice to hear that encouragement, her head turning sharply a few degrees when he says it. He didn't see, did he? Surely not - no, it was what she said, wasn't it?] ... Thank you. [A touch relieved, she glances at the 'final door' - which he appears to be trying to kick down, and maybe it would have been too much to hope that it might turn out to be unlocked - and then back at their pursuers, who... are starting to close the distance.]

[That won't do. That won't do at all.]

[So maybe there's room for a little more help. Her second attempt at a portal is actually less successful; the next time, she tries something else, instead. There are an awful lot of weapons about, and if one of them should happen to suddenly look less like a weapon - like, for instance, that sword becoming a snake, just for a long enough second to startle its wielder into dropping it and promptly bowling into a couple of other combatants - that might be distracting, right? And oddly enough, that's exactly what happens.]

How is it going--?

[Said while she's still regarding the ensuing commotion, eyes on that rather than his progress forcing his way through the door.]

[Finally, an audience who will tolerate all of his rants?!

As all of that unfolds, Rock Lee focuses on the door. He's starting to run out of breath as he unleashes kick after kick, but he thinks that he is wearing the door down. He does hear some commotion coming from behind him, but he remains oblivious on the source. He just focuses his attentions on that oddly resilient door.]

I believe that it is going well! Namine-san... the time is now!

[With that, Lee leaps up to the air and drops one more powerful kick that finally manages to knock the door off of its hinges. The other enemies are still distracted by the racket caused by Namine's distraction, so Lee swiftly trods outside into the wilderness.]

[All of them. Because she is both too nice and too interested in hearing what people have to say for her own good.]

[His remaining oblivious is actually, to her, quite the boon. She hasn't had long to acclimate to this place, but there's already a part of her that is thoroughly reluctant to go sharing any information about her peculiar abilities if she can help it - especially if there's even the slightest risk that it might cause any awkwardness with her new acquaintance. Better, she thinks, to hold her tongue.]

--!

[Exhaling a relieved sort of breath when the door comes down that turns into the barest hint of a laugh, Naminé finally turns her attention to that as they make their escape. After she's had a moment to glance around, she looks back toward the ballroom beginning to recede from sight. Good - their attackers seem to have, for the moment, been left behind. (It may in part be due to the fact that some of them have fallen upon each other, thanks to that distraction.)]

[And maybe she should wait longer, but surely he must be tiring by now, right? She knows he sounded like it earlier - so once the ballroom has been obscured by at least a few of the trees, she offers, voice concerned,]

You can set me down...!

[Finally, they made it to freedom! They can breath fresh air at least... or rather, virtual fresh air. The ballroom and it's troubles seem so far away from them now, and that's what matters the most in the end.

Lee moves a short distance from the ballroom, his breathing indeed starting to sound labored, and he nods at her request.]

Ah - yes! [Gently, he leans over and tries to set her onto her feet.] Are you alright, Namine-san? [Lee glances at her in concern, just to make sure that she did not accidentally sustain any injuries during the confusion.]

[She is careful to plant her feet at the earliest opportunity so as to avoid a mishap, gentle though he might be, and once she's upright takes only a small step or two to put a more comfortable speaking distance between them - or more comfortable for her, anyway. ~~Nevermind that she just spent that whole time getting carried around.~~]

I think I should be asking you that...!

[By all appearances, she is none the worse for wear. Her dress is still all crisp and nice and pure white, aside from some very slight crumpling where she was held. She seems far more interested in looking him over, though, her own expression a mix of concern and intent study.]

But-- yes, I'm alright. [Finding his eyes, she offers her gratitude first in the form of a warm, genuine smile, then a,] Thank you, Rock. I owe my safety to you.

[He certainly lets her keep her distance. His own stance remains rigid, as he is trying to be alert for any future threats. But for the moment, things are safe, so he focuses his attention on the girl he has been fighting to protect. Even the dress looks unmarred!

As for Lee, the suit he's been given has been scuffed and lightly torn in some places. There's also a small bruise on his face, but otherwise he seems to be fine.]

It is alright! I am fine. And... I am glad that you are well, Namine-san!

[She has such a sweet smile! And Lee smiles fondly right back at her.]

You are very welcome. I am just glad that I was able to protect someone, and to be able to meet someone like you, Namine-san!

[For all intents and purposes, he's done well! She seems to have no problems whatsoever with his abilities as a bodyguard/escort mission completer - although her eyes do linger on that bruise, lips parting slightly as if she means to bring it up but deciding against it. Perhaps it's better to be grateful there were no more significant injuries. Nodding,]

If you're sure. I'll... have to find some way to make it up to you.

[His smiling seems to encourage hers into greater brightness-- at least until those words follow it and she instinctively ducks her head slightly, unmistakably shy as her shoulders inch upward in unison with it.]

Oh--... I don't know if I'd say that. [About meeting someone like her; she, as far as she's concerned, is not the sort of person anyone should want to meet. It comes out more flattered than anything, yet there's actual truthfulness and something almost matter of fact to her,] I'm-- nothing special. But I was pretty lucky to meet you. I don't think I'd have made it out of there, if I hadn't.

[It really is a relatively minor injury for Lee, at least. So he'll just leave it be for now, and focus on Namine as they regain their bearings.

He stands and listens to her, looking sheepish at her compliments; but slihtly sad at her assessment of her special-ness.]

Thank you! I am glad to have helped you. But, you do not have to worry about making anything up to me. [Lee shakes his head softly.] And I... I am sorry to disagree with you, Namine-san, but I believe that you are a very special person! I just met you, but I am very glad to do so!

[She's seen worse - even within the last few minutes - but she doesn't forget that that injury is there. If only she were practiced with healing, she'd have some assistance to offer Instead, it serves to strengthen her resolve to find some way to pay him back.]

[Openly surprised, she studies him. There's no denying that it's nice, really nice, to hear those things, but-- surely it has more to do with him than with her, doesn't it? He seems kind, to her, seems earnest - like someone who would be more generous with the positive assessments than they necessarily should be, but perhaps that's just her own lack of self-esteem talking. (And it doesn't make the gesture any less touching, either.) Straightening, she folds her hands together and offers him a genuine smile that has a hint of something else to it, the lingering sign of her own disagreement. Her eyes are sad, somehow, even as her mouth curves upward at the ends.]

['Different,' maybe. But not special.]

I'm... glad to meet you, too. You've been too kind. [And she's not sure yet whether she means that in more than the colloquial sense, though she's beginning to suspect it wouldn't be far off. Tone light,] But-- I'm sure you must say that sort of thing to all the girls, right?

[It's probably an attempt at a joke, pulled up from somewhere in the depths of her memory; she wouldn't think to say such a thing on her own.]

[Rock Lee does strive to see the good in everyone before anything else, ad it's easy for him to find value in virtually anyone. Even so, Namine hasn't given him any reason to truly doubt her and his faith in her ability. Her sad smile does nag at him, and he wants to help her to feel better.

Of course, Namine's joke does end up flustering him a bit.]

A-ah, no, I... I do not say such a thing often, I promise! There... there may be many people who are special, but that makes you no less special, Namine-san!

[Fingers curling, she covers her laugh with a hand - but it isn't derisive, isn't unkind in the least. It's a sweet, honest little thing, and that's better than the sadness, surely!]

Well, alright - if you promise.

[But that's about as much gentle teasing as she has in her, and when her hand lowers, there's another warm smile on her mouth, soft eyes very slightly crinkled with it. She regards him almost fondly.]

I'm flattered, really. You're very sweet.

[Lee does calm down quickly as her teasing dies down. His tension rolls off his shoulders, but he's still rendered bashful by her compliment.]

A-ah! I am just trying to be a nice young man! That is all. But, you are very kind yourself, Namine-san, and gentle! I am glad to know you, and I am ready to help you as much as you need!

[Having learned her lesson, she doesn't resist the positive words, this time, though she does turn her smile toward the ground, cheeks coloring very slightly. It's going to take some getting used to, being around someone who says such things.]

Then - it seems like you're succeeding. [Ah, but they shouldn't linger overlong; though some fragment of her smile remains, she raises her head to cast a sidelong glance in the direction of the ballroom. No one's coming yet, but--]

If you've recovered... I think it might be a good idea to keep moving.

Edited 2016-03-31 06:52 (UTC)

[Aw. It's a precious sight, although he still looks flustered as well as a result.]

I- I am? [He beams at her.] Ah... thank you!

[But she brings the reality of the situation back to the surface, and he glances back towards the ballroom as she speaks, before nodding along firmly.]

That is a wise idea, Namine-san! Do not worry... I am fully ready to continue moving! If you are alright as well, let us go and take shelter in the jungle!

[They can both be flustered - it's less embarrassing that way, right?]

Of course...!

[It's only the truth, after all - just like the fact that they should vacate the premises as soon as possible.]

I am. You have a lot more reason to be tired than I do. If you're ready, then-- yes, please.

[One last glance at the way they came and then she's half-turning, prepared to leave but keeping her eyes on him in anticipation of them heading off together.]

Let's go.

Edited 2016-03-31 07:05 (UTC)

[Yes, it cancels itself out!

Of course, despite the dire nature of the situation, this was far from a truly trying workout for Lee. So his concern was more for Namine, since she seemed to not be used to combat. But if she says she is ready, then Lee believes her!

He gives a firm nod at her statement.]

I still have much energy to spare, Namine-san, so there is no need for concern. Let us move!

[Rock Lee starts to move briskly towards the jungle. Nothing's chasing them, so there's no need to try to carry her again, and he just tries to keep himself moving at a pace that she can keep up with.]

[That she can go on without any more significant rest is due entirely to the fact that she didn't have to do much of the running, and has already had her break while he carried her. She would otherwise be quite thoroughly in need of a respite.]

[And she can keep up, but it is perhaps more of a strain on her than it should be for an apparently healthy young lady of her age (and it doesn't help that she's such a tiny thing, either). Still, she keeps both pace and silence, as well as an occasional watch in the direction they came.]

[It seems that if he'd like there to be conversation, he'll have to initiate it himself, because she is an almost oddly quiet sort of gal.]

[As they move into the shade of the trees, Lee keeps taking glances at Namine to make sure that she is alright. She does seem unused to this sort of thing, and he soon comes to a stop when a little time has passed without any signs of enemies.]

We can stop here for now. Do not worry... I will be vigilant of any more danger! [He says with a reassuring smile as he lightly jogs in place.] Namine-san, how are you feeling right now?

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