[Ben is there when Alex wakes up; he doesn't need to sleep, doesn't want to sleep, and has no duties to distract him. He goes directly from Zero, where he deposited Royce, to the Infirmary, where Charles deposited Alex, and he stays there. The X5 doesn't care if it's rude that he ignores any questions directed at him. He does it anyway, intent for several long moments on Alex - enough to be sure that the wound has healed, that he'll come back alright - and then on finding a place to wait.
And he does wait. He doesn't press in close, doesn't jockey for position with anyone, barely even moves once he settles. But he's there. And once Alex is awake, once their eyes have met and they both know, Ben steals away silently. He still doesn't really want to talk, and he highly doubts Alex does either, and he has obligations. That is the answer he will give to anyone who asks, even though those obligations matter not at all to him in comparison to his friend's wellbeing.
It's still after lunch the following day before the transgenic tries again. He turns up at Alex's door, still quieter and more feral, more sharp, than he has been in the past couple weeks. He has a notebook in one hand, a pen shoved into the spiral spine of it, and he knocks with the other.]
It's Ben. [A moment later he's trying the handle; one way or another, knowing Alex's bed in the infirmary is empty, he's going through the door.]
[ Spam ] Thursday
And he does wait. He doesn't press in close, doesn't jockey for position with anyone, barely even moves once he settles. But he's there. And once Alex is awake, once their eyes have met and they both know, Ben steals away silently. He still doesn't really want to talk, and he highly doubts Alex does either, and he has obligations. That is the answer he will give to anyone who asks, even though those obligations matter not at all to him in comparison to his friend's wellbeing.
It's still after lunch the following day before the transgenic tries again. He turns up at Alex's door, still quieter and more feral, more sharp, than he has been in the past couple weeks. He has a notebook in one hand, a pen shoved into the spiral spine of it, and he knocks with the other.]
It's Ben. [A moment later he's trying the handle; one way or another, knowing Alex's bed in the infirmary is empty, he's going through the door.]