a hard pill to swallow {Kirito / VT / Nico}

You were made to make it hurt,
Disappear into the dirt,
Carry me to heaven's arms,
Light the way and let me go.

"Dad."

A gentle tug pulls on the elbow of a fine grey suit. Brown eyes once riddled with warmth stare clouded into a mirror's manipulated reflection. Exhaustion from an unknown enemy hides in the shadows of the ghosts's gaze. His hair is combed and his face freshly shaven, but an unavoidable tiredness is there. It lives in his loss of color. It grows in his loss of weight. It threatens him with the multiplication of his reflection from one, into three. His fingers are like latches locked to the edges of his sink. He can barely withstand the sight of himself, survive the shock of his state. How can he...

"Dad."

Another soft pull and his eyes blink, his hands loosen rubbing quickly over his eyes as he turns away from his reflected beast. Small brown eyes, miniature mirrors of what once were his own, look up at him framed in lovely locks of light brown. She is still so small, still so seemingly untouched by the tragedy that comes from the hands of those she doesn't know. She is still just an eight year old girl, one that does not know the fear that comes from standing in a Square surrounded by nothing but fright. One that is only two years from sitting down with both Kirito and Oasis as they watch what happened, tell her who her Dad really is and why they live where they do. For now she is still innocent, or as close as a person in the world of Panem can be.

He lowers himself down to her, a shaking hand moving a piece of hair away from her face.

"Yes love?"

She smirks softly before spinning in a swift circle.

"Do I look pretty?"

She stands dressed in a light lavender shirt and a pair of brown pants. Her hair is free from its usual bun, done normally by Oasis to attempt in keeping her hair clean, and her feet hide within the confines of a new set of black flats. All undoubtedly the work of Kirito's better half. He gives her a smile and a quick kiss on the head.

"You look perfect. Now go eat dinner, Grandma has been working hard on it. I'll be right behind you."

As her steps scuttle away against the hardwood floors, a sigh slips from Kirito's lips. His hands, always in a state of mild turbulence, pull open a small cabinet and wrap around the neck of a petite orange bottle. Two medium pills of red fall into his palm before he swallows them painfully. His mind flashes back to the machines, to the blood, to everything. His arm spasms slamming a nearby bottle of soap onto the floor with a loud clash. Oasis' voice calls up with worry, but he assures her it's nothing.

He just dropped something, that's all.

The walk to the Justice Building is short and the day is cool despite the coming summer. Sonja's hand rests interwoven within Kirito's as they enter to the typical chaos of a Victory Tour day. Yet this time, his head rumbles from all the sudden activity. Capitol camera crews move all about and stylists along with escorts all reconnect. However, Kirito is here for the newest member of the family. The newest one learning what a life after murder is like.

Nico Thorne.

"Welcome to Eleven, I'm Kirito and this is one of my daughters, Sonja."

Kirito pauses as he looks around at the anarchy of the room, a new sigh stirring from between his teeth.

"It's always too much, but I guess that's the point right?"

Dear Agony,
Just let go of me,
Suffer slowly,
Is this the way its got to be?

Lyrics : Dear Agony by Breaking Benjamin