[OPEN]

[awokentospring]

Who: Rock Lee and anyone who wants to visit him!
When: April 9th (backdated)
Where: Konohagakure Hospital
Notes: After getting heavily injured during a mission a few days before, Lee is finally awake and allowed visitors. He's feeling a little down, mostly because it was his fault things wound up this way.

His chest was wrapped with bandages but the worst of his injuries were hidden under his hospital gown. However, that didn't mean Rock Lee was unaware of his blunder. He had pushed himself too far and this was the result.

Rubbing his forehead, Lee slowly eased himself back against the raised bed. Neji and Tenten were safe, mostly fine. Alive. That was what mattered. It really mattered. And it did! But...

Lee closed his eyes, feeling resigned. He had failed, and that mattered too, to Lee if not to anyone else. He was going to need to fix that.

Comments

[tenten_san]

Just from the reaction, she knew in an instant that her efforts had fallen short. And whatever small twitch of a smile Tenten had managed dissipated at the realization. "No, that... that's not what I meant at all, Lee..."

After everything - after nearly dying on this mission - his main concern was still the well-being and happiness of others. Even as the tears streaked down his once proud and effortlessly cheerful face. It was a selfless and noble endeavour, and one that did not surprise her in the least. In fact, she should have expected it of him.

Still, the kunoichi knew the price of placing others before yourself. So it was with a sigh that she made to at least ease herself onto the edge of the hospital bed, moving in closer and speaking in a softer, more serious tone in order to get the message across. "Look. I can't speak for anyone else. But you... putting on a mask and pretending to be okay when you're not... that won't make me happy. It never will, so get that out of your head right now."

[awokentospring]

First she was telling him to cheer up, and then she was telling him it was okay to not be happy. Lee didn't know how to react, so he went along with his emotions and let the tears bubble up again. He clutched at Tenten's arm and cried on her shoulder, letting himself get out what was left in his system against one of the biggest comforts in his life.

Lee did want to be happy so everyone else would be happy but he hated lying. He hated lying to others and also to himself.

Once he gained a grip, Lee felt exhausted in a way he never did after training. He kept leaning against Tenten, hoping she wouldn't move away.

"... I want to be stronger, but I do not think I can get that way doing the same things I have been for so long."

[tenten_san]

Feeling the weight of him and the way his body shook with his quiet sobs, Tenten was a bit taken by surprise. But as her own heart began to break with each tear he shed, the kunoichi made a decision, then and there to steel herself against such emotions. For her own sake, but mostly for his as well. Lee did not need someone who could break apart. He needed someone to lean on and support him through this time of strife and doubt in his life.

He needed a friend, not a teammate.

With that realization, she pushed aside any awkwardness and carefully circled her arms around him. Sighing softly and resigning herself to this task, Tenten rubbed at his arm and stroked her palm along the hard line of his back in soothing motions, much like she once did for any other charge under her care. Because it was the kind of sight and devastation that reached deep into her soul.

"I know, Lee. I know," she murmured into the fluff of his hair, "But that just means that you have to find a different way to get stronger."