Chapter 3: Obstacles to Recovery
5 days have passed since this whole "attempted suicide" thing started and I'm still in hospital, despite me being almost 99.9% sure I'm completely fine. Apparently I didn't inhale much water; it was just the shock of the cold. Again, it IS October, so both me and Sonic would have almost frozen judging by how cold the ocean water already was and the fact the temperature was at least 3 degrees.
"Lu…?" It's Rosalina; a girl from Mario's universe with not only a crush on Luigi but is actually the protector of the cosmos, which is Deoxys' job in my world. …Well…I guess Jirachi counts as well, as well as Lunala and Cresselia. We have several "universal" Legendary and Mythical Pokemon in my world, just saying. Rosalina smiles and enters the room fully, platinum blonde hair tousled down her back as well as over her right eye and her blue dress covering her silver slippers. Luma, her pet star (well, I say pet but it's more like family to her), isn't with her. "Hey, how are you doing?"
"…Alright, I suppose." I mumble. Rosalina sadly smiles and perches on the edge of the bed. I refuse to look at her but I eventually decide to make eye contact as I need to ask an important question. "…Have you…heard anything?" She's silent for a moment before she responds.
"Nothing since he became stable yesterday." She shakes her head, voice low. "…Sorry." I feel my body tense, my paws curling into tightly-drawn fists. She notices and rests a hand on my arm, almost as if she's trying to calm me down. How can I calm down!? "Lu, you can't get worked up, not in your state. Please, try and relax for me."
"No! Why should I!?" I yell, taking her aback. I don't care. To hell with being calm! "How can I relax when the love of my life is close to death, Rose!? I can't relax!" My voice breaks and I struggle to calm my harsh breaths. I look away, cupping my mouth as shameful tears drip down my face. How can I yell like that!? She was trying to help. I begin sobbing, paws covering my face so darkness is all I see. I hear Rosalina sigh and bundle me into a comforting hug. I don't cry often; it takes a lot for me to cry but I guess my emotions are a little wild right now.
"It's OK, Lu, honestly. I'm not mad…I'm worried too. Sonic's like a little brother to me. I never had a family; all this has gotten me all riled up as well. It has everyone…OK, maybe not Mario but…" Mario. Just the sheer mention of his name makes anger set in my head. He's dead to a lot of people right now. After what he's done…it's like I said. If Sonic's been affected in any way, shape or form, I'll murder him. Yandere, I know, but Sonic's a special case.
"Talking of that bastard, what has MH done with him?"
"Home-arrest of sorts. He can't leave his room until further notice. Makes me wonder why he would even send Sonic those messages in the first place. I know they've never gotten along but this is a little…psycho."
"…He just wants Sonic dead. That's all he cares about. He's gone psycho alright." Just the thought of someone wanting someone, especially someone as vulnerable as Sonic, dead makes rage fill me and my fists re-clench. Sonic has done nothing to rile Mario up apart from their vicious rivalry. Eventually, Rosalina guesses I want some time alone; she hugs me once more before leaving the room, winking.
XO
"Alright, you. Let's try those legs."
I grunt but I allow the nurse to ease me into a sitting position on the bed edge so my feet hang off the side of the bed. Dizziness fills my head as the room starts to spin but I luckily don't faint. My vision finally settles and I'm able to make my toes touch the floor and I flinch. I haven't felt the floor for nearly a week (2 days have passed since my talk with Rose), so my legs tense at the new texture of the tiled floor but she helps me into a standing stance. My legs shake but I'm more or less balanced. The nurse claps, her face beaming.
"Very well done! Can you step forward for me?" I look at my shaking feet and I try very hard to will them forward but they stay cemented to the floor. When was walking so damn hard!? I grit my teeth and raise one foot, almost immediately putting it down slightly in front of my other when pain suddenly shrieks up to my hip. Nevertheless, the nurse looks impressed. I try it again, almost losing my balance but the nurse quickly helps me back up. "You're doing splendid! I'll take some time for you to regain full mobility after a week in bed but we'll be doing two daily exercises. You'll be walking around normally in no time." I want to snap at her but her caring look stops me as she helps me back into bed before being whisked off by another nurse. I look at my feet.
"Why do you two have to be so uncooperative?"
"When did you talk to your feet?" A voice taunts. I look up. It's Fox. I look away in embarrassment.
"I didn't realize anyone was in earshot."
"Nah, I won't tell anyone. Your secret's safe with me." He sits on a chair sitting vacant that faces my bed. Rosalina technically broke rules by sitting on the bed. It's not allowed.
"Why are you here, Fox?" I look away from him. He looks hurt.
"Why would I not be? I was checking on Sonic."
"And…?"
"He's improving, that much is certain. Still no response, but his survival rate's drastically increased. They think he might be OK now."
"Thank Arceus."
"What is Arceus anyway? All you Pokemon say that."
"You say "Thank Cornelia", so how is it any different? Arceus is the God of all Pokemon."
"Oh, I get it…like Sonic says "Thank Aurora"."
"Last time I checked, Aurora is one of three "Neo Walkers" on his world alongside two guys called Athair and Merlin, so it works."
"Merlin? As in Arthur's Merlin?" He laughs at this but I give him a silencing glare. "OK, I won't taunt anymore." He sinks in his chair. "I must admit Lu…you really owe Greninja."
"I know…for more than saving our lives…I owe him for getting help pronto. Without him…both of us could have died."
"Can I…tell you something, Lu?"
"Yeah, what?"
"I've been researching LS a lot, looking into its effects and whatnot…I'm starting to think I have it myself."
I find myself struggling for words. Fox…having LS…? Him of all people?
"…You're joking, right?"
"Deadly serious…I must have only mild Stage 1…small mood swings, sensitivity to both pain and light, not understanding some social customs, sometimes mild hallucinations…I'm having a test done tomorrow." Most of that I didn't know. At first, I'm at a loss of words but I slightly smile at his announcement. One symptom I haven't noticed is extreme sensitivity to light, or photophobia. Sonic hasn't really experienced it but it does sometimes happen.
"If you do have it and Sonic finds out, at least he won't feel so alienated."
"That's one upside." He nods and stands. "I'll leave you alone now Lu. You still need some rest."
"Can people stop saying that? I'm fine."
"Fox!" Fox turns around to see Samus, who is a bounty hunter who, when in her armour, you can easily mistake for a male if you've never met her. She's in her "Zero Suit" which is a tight blue jumpsuit which shows her blonde hair which is tied in a ponytail down her back. She looks panicked. She whispers something in his ear. His eyes go wide, fur on end.
"Are you sure!?"
"I've stationed Smashers everywhere. He can't get near."
"OK…good job."
"Mind telling me what in Arceus's name is going on!?" I interrupt. The two look at each other before Samus sighs, hands on her hips.
"Mario. He got out of his room. No doubt he'll come here to finish the hedgehog off."
"How the heck did he get out!?"
"Haven't a clue. Magic?" Fox jokes. Samus's face goes red as she harshly wracks his ear.
"Fox!"
"Sorry, Samus, I tend to make jokes in dire situations." His laughing stops.
"He won't get anywhere near him." I whisper. "If he does, I'll literally kill him."
"You're not leaving this room." Samus warns but my look makes her quickly back down. I feel the fire in my eyes, determination filling me up with adrenaline.
"Oh yes I am. Sonic's MY boyfriend, and I promised I would protect him no matter what. He's unconscious, unable to defend himself from anything! I have to be there!" The two look at each again as they both sigh. They're about to say something but a scream erupts from somewhere. I know the voice. Rosalina.
"Rose…!"
"She was…she was with Sonic…I put her there in case he came to…"
"Come on! She's in trouble!" The two rush out, followed by myself, agony pleading me to stop but I don't. It takes me a while to get solid footing but soon I break into a run, following Samus and Fox's auras since I no longer see them. We reach one of the ICU rooms and I see Sonic lying in the bed, hooked up to machines, unmoving. My heart instantly breaks all over. He looks so small, so fragile, like he's made of glass. Now's not the time for this! I look over and I see Rosalina on her back, terror dancing in her eyes. Looming above her with a sword in hand as well as knifes in his dungaree belt is Mario, an insane fire in his eyes. He sees me and a malicious grin spreads across his face. Protectively, I use myself as a barrier so he can't get to Sonic. This only provides more amusement. There's something wrong with his eyes. They're blank; almost unseeing. I've seen that look before and a theory spawns.
The fact that he's suddenly snapped…the hatred towards Sonic…the mood swings…the hatred of getting hurt…he…he has Loveless Syndrome too. That look is the exact same when Sonic blacks out and has one of his episodes. That makes 3 people I know who have the condition…well, 2 and a half before, for Fox, it isn't confirmed.
"Listen to me, Mario." I talk quietly. That usually helps. "You're not thinking straight…you're having some sort of episode. You need to put the sword down, please." His grin only widens. Would help if he said something, anything! He suddenly raises the sword and swings down, with me only being able to dodge just in time. I activate my Bone Rush move and a cyan glowing bone appearing in my hand and I use that to block the sword. I just have to wait until the episode finishes and then get answers. We soon get into melee combo: sword vs. bone before he gets the upper hand and knocks me to the ground, making my ankle snap. My entire legs surges with agony. He's still grinning and he walks slowly over to Sonic, eyes cemented on the wires. He doesn't pull them. In one swift movement, he grabs his quill and yanks him into a karate throw, snapping the wires and even knocking one over. The oxygen mask dislodges. He throws him to the ground where he doesn't move. Mario's grin is bigger than life right now. I get that feeling again. That mental snap. My bone changes from cyan to an angry red, which it does based on my emotions. I manage to stand. Mario has his sword raised, ready to kill. I rush forward and I kick him backwards in the stomach. He lands in the wall, anger flashing in his eyes. We once again get into a combo before I get bored and I wrack him over the head, instantly knocking him out. My bone disappears. Rosalina, Samus and Fox are over Sonic, checking him over. I'm trying to get my damn breath back. "Is he…phew…OK?"
"Still breathing, which is a relief. Should be alright." Rosalina reports.
"What is going on in…!?" It's a nurse. As she sees the scene, anime-styled question marks appear over her head. "…Uh…what happened here then?" I quickly explain the whole thing while more nurses and my friends swiftly get everything back to normal. The nurses agree Sonic no longer needs a ventilator, but he's still unconscious. I then get a painful reminder of my ankle. Fox notices.
"Lu, did you hurt yourself?"
"Just my ankle." I admit, shaking my leg to shake off the pain. Stupid move. It only increases.
"Best do a scan on it." One nurse ponders, making me sweat-drop. We're just leaving the room when a slurred groan enters my ears. At first, I fear it is Mario coming to but I see that everyone is stepping away from Sonic. His ear flicks as people murmur. I wiggle the nurse off me and I clasp Sonic's hand as his fingers tense at the new texture of my paw. His eyes slightly open, making a large smile cross my face. His eyes look at me, brightening when they recognise me. He innocently grins. I grin back.
"Hey." I whisper, tightening my grip on his hand.
"…L-L-Lu…" He manages to rasp, his voice barely a croak. He flinches when he hears it, confusion in his eyes. I stroke behind his ear.
"I'm right here, Sonikku. Always." I comfort and that makes him smile, a small purr escaping from his throat. I get a tap on the shoulder and Rosalina is there with something grey and stuffed in her hand. Sonic's comfort toy…one he cutely named "Fluffy". I nod in thanks and I reveal it to Sonic. "Fluffy's missed you, you know." I tuck it under his arm and he cuddles it, smiling even more now as he sits up slightly. His eyes are open fully now, somewhat normally. He then notices the knocked-out Mario and tenses up. "Don't worry, he won't hurt you. He's out cold anyway." I suddenly hug him, gently easing him up into a sitting position, making him softly gasp. "I'm glad you're OK…we were all really worried about you…" He still looks confused. Chances are he doesn't remember and I'm not going to remind him. Worst thing I could do.
"…W-Where a-am I?" He mumbles.
"The hospital. Don't worry, you're fine now." I say that because as soon as I say "hospital", a horrified choke exits his mouth as he starts violently shaking. Let's just say he hates hospitals. I tighten my hug. "Try and calm down, OK?" I turn Fluffy's head and start imitating him. "Yeah, everything's gonna be A-OK now!" He laughs at this and nuzzles the toy's nose, mumbling something that I don't catch. The nurse taps my shoulder.
"It's best if he gets some rest. Same for you, Mister. We need to scan that ankle."
"Alright." I nod and I gently lay Sonic back down onto his back, tucking Fluffy in the sheets with him as he quickly drifts off.
XO
~ Sonic's POV ~
I want to know what in Aurora's name is going on. People have been treating me really weirdly, like I'm someone popular. Hmph. As if. The good thing is I have Fluffy. He keeps me calm. I know he's only a toy but to me he's more than that. A friend. A very close friend. I would be lost without him. I ask questions to anyone and everyone: what happened? Why am I here? What's wrong with me?
Why won't anyone give me an answer? Am I suddenly too unimportant to know at least that much? I loathe hospitals, sure, but judging how I'm unable to do much for the moment, I guess I need to be here. For some reason, my voice doesn't work the way I want it to. My body doesn't co-operate. Even my brain's acting weird. I'm allowed to sit up. I can eat and drink as long as I have supervision as my hands keep shaking and suddenly jerking randomly. Another thing is Lu. Haven't seen him in a few days…which is worrying me. Why hasn't he come?
I almost slap my head. Of course he wouldn't come. He doesn't love me anymore…that last time we saw each other after a long period of blackness…whatever caused it I don't know but…I…I can't take this anymore! Everyone comes crashing down then, my entire mood falling until it can't fall anymore. Torrents of tears fly down my cheeks as my head and heart shatter.
"Sonic!?"
It's Zelda. Ignored.
"W-What's wrong? Hey!"
Ignored!
"Please, Sonic…talk to me!"
IGNORED!
She wraps her arms around me. I have no strength to shake her off, no desire to listen, to heed or to do anything. I hear other Smashers calling my name, shaking me, asking what's wrong. I ignore all of them. I just tighten my grip on Fluffy. Even after my tears stop, I don't wipe them away. Zelda does that. She ushers everyone out of the room and gently clasps my hands into hers. She's asking if something's the matter, not in a demanding way, but in that motherly way. I ignore her. I want nothing. I don't want anything. Eventually, a nurse is called and she checks me over, my hearing, my reactions. My ear flicks. I flinch. I don't look up or around. My eyes are fixed on my feet. I refuse to look at anything else. I hear one word.
Catatonia.
What the heck is that? Zelda runs off. She's scared of me…I don't care. The nurse brings some food but I don't touch it. I'm not hungry. She gently smiles and brings the spoon to my lips. I cement them closed. More tears fall. She wipes them away. She's talking, I blot her out. I suddenly gasp as a memory fills up my entire vision, my head violently spinning as I feel nauseous and sick. I'm blacking out; damn episodes. I see water…an ocean in front of me. Why am I here of all places? I hear a plane; Fox's Arwing and I hear Lu's voice, yelling my name before I scream and I leap into the watery depths. I feel the cold, the shock, the terror before it all melts away into darkness.
…
…Did I…no, I couldn't have…did I try to…to do myself in or something….?
My vision returns, but I still decide to remain motionless, even more now. No-one wants anything to do with me…not after that…why would they? I hear rapid footsteps.
"Sonic!?"
I'm almost tempted to look. It's Lu's voice. Who cares? He's in the doorway. I decide to look, for a split-second anyway. I look back at my feet. I can sense Lu right near me and I can imagine the sorrow on his face. I block out his voice until he forces me into a hug, making me gasp as it surprises me. Moisture drips onto my arm. He's crying. I can't stand Lu crying. That only motivates me to remain the way I am because that means he hates me even more.
"Please…" I hear his voice in my ear. It's broken. "…come back to me…please."
…No. Why should I!? They all hate me…Lu especially. He could have died because of my stupid stunt! I suddenly tense. He's stroking my quills. It feels nice…but I don't purr. That instantly makes him break down into more tears. He's asking why I won't talk, why I'm different. I don't answer. I don't see the point. Nothing matters anymore, not even my life. I should have drowned. At least everyone would be happier. He tightens his hug. I still don't want him on me, but I can't will myself to shake him off. I hear a new voice. Mewtwo. He pulls Lu aside and they talk. Ignored again. I look at them out of the corner of my eye. Mewtwo looks solemn and serious, Lu is cupping his mouth, more tears following down his face, terror and horror in his eyes. Why? He looks back at me and then at Mewtwo again before nodding. Mewtwo leaves. What was that all about? Doesn't matter.
"…I don't hate you."
…Yes, you do.
"…Mewtwo was saying…he read your thoughts…they were intense with self-hatred and anger…is that why you won't talk to anyone? Because of what happened? You remembered, didn't you?"
…Too many questions.
"…No-one hates you, Sonikuu…of course they don't! This is all Mario's fault, sending those messages like that. I don't want to lose you to this…please, come back to me…"
…No.
"I love you, you know that…I want to help you, please, I know you think everyone is against you and wants nothing to do with you, but that isn't true! I just want you back, Sonikuu, that's all I want. We're all a family, and family stays together through thick and thin. Mario's been dealt with." He clasps my hands and envelopes me with himself, head on mine. "Nothing else means more to me than you." I look down at our clasped hands. My mood slightly lifts. However, it all comes crashing down again as I burst into tears. He jumps but he's there to comfort me, stroking me and whispering that he was there for me. I look up at him and we meet eye contact. I immediately look away. He lets go but he moves so our eyes meet. I look away. He tries again. I do the same. "Hey, now. I'm here if you want to talk."
…Do I really want to talk…? I look at him cautiously and suspiciously. My look takes him slightly aback but he tries to smile. I can't. His look's serious but caring. He does care. Lu never lies…I think.
"…"
"I know you're upset, I can tell. Talking helps."
"…"
I want to talk but…I can't. Why can't I!? My throat doesn't co-operate. I see a figure behind Lu with faint glowing cyan eyes. Am I imagining it or is it real? I blink. He's still there. Lu follows my look.
"What…?" He turns around and freezes. Light fills the shadow. Mario. Lu guards me. "How the hell did you get out!?" No answer. Get out? What the heck? Mario has a sadistic grin yet he has no weapon. Lu activates his Bone Rush and stands, twirling it like a baton. He lunges but Mario dodges, kicking him in the back.
"LU!"
The voice is mine but it's high-pitched and makes me violently flinch. Mario looks over at me, grin growing. His eyes are insane. He lunges a punch and I only just dodge, though I fall onto the floor. Mario's immediately over me, punching me into the wall, which REALLY hurts. Lu's out for the count. I growl. I have to defend myself.
"Y-You hurt him!" Mario doesn't reply but he chuckles a small evil laugh. I trip him and I pin him to the ground, only for him to kick me in the…ahem…private area and he pins me, hands enclosed around my neck…hard. Even though I can't breathe, I kick him off me, coughing in oxygen. He growls and pulls a pipe from the wall, wracking me over the head. I can't move…! He grins and he swings over and over, each hit resulting in blood spatter and unimaginable agony. I can feel some trickling down my chin from my mouth. I see Mario get hit over the head with something red before my vision blacks out and I'm swallowed by some choking darkness.
XO
~ Lucario's POV ~
"SONIKUU!"
I'm yelling, louder than I ever have. There's blood dripping from the trauma wounds from Sonic's head. His eyes are still open but they're frozen, unmoving, unseeing. My shaking paw feels for a pulse on his neck, and luckily I find a faint one. Nurses take over as policemen carry the once-again unconscious Mario away. Second time! He really does have Stage 4 LS. He had a test done and he definitely has it. Fox too. He has mild Stage 1, like he theorized. I'm lost, heart in numb pieces once again as Sonic's escorted to resus for emergency scans and tests. In fact, it's so bad they call MH in, who signs surgery papers (because Sonic's under 18). I'm sitting in the waiting area, completely numb. Seeing the one you love in a near-death state is the worst thing you can live through…and this is again the second time. When Zelda told me Sonic was in some sort of catatonic state, I panicked and rushed over there. He wouldn't talk…wouldn't even move…he did look at me though but only very briefly. He just couldn't do anything. All those negative thoughts of abandonment, a want to be hated, hatred towards us and even me…he didn't care for his own life anymore and now this…I end up crying. I couldn't visit him due to my damn ankle that I managed twisted. MH is there, watching me. I've told him everything already, but he links an arm around me, shushing me like a father. If we are a family, which we are, MH is the father that holds us together. Crazy is like a crazy uncle of sorts. Zelda is like the mother. It's complicated and dysfunctional, sure, but it's one fun family. After a few hours, the doors open and a nurse is there, grey in the face. MH stands.
"Well!?" He demands, tone loud like a worried father would be. "Is he alright!?"
"The surgery was 100% successful and he's alive…but…" She begins but she trails off, biting her lip.
"But what?"
"We've done many CT and MRI scans. While he is currently stable, there's a 90% chance Sonic will be left with some degree of brain damage."
My broken heart breaks even more as my legs sink beneath me, panic filling me. Damage…!? MH too looks heartbroken but silently nods a thank you. The nurse apologises and leaves the room. I scream as trauma fills me up from head to toe, my heart aching. MH hears and bundles me into his arms, crying himself. That's rare.
"We'll get through this, Lucario." He is one of the people who never calls me by my nickname. He's struggling to stay calm. He's like a distressed father, which in a way he is. Ever since Sonic started Brawl, he was one of MH's favourites. All of the newcomers from outside the Nintendo realm were. I have a feeling MH knew Sonic had Loveless Syndrome when they locked eyes. He's a god so he would know the signs and symptoms straightaway. Why didn't he say anything? Maybe he wasn't sure?
"…I just want him back…" I whimper and MH sadly smiles, ruffling my fur.
"I know. I do too." He stands and helps me up. "Shall we go see him?"
"…"
"We'll bring him Fluffy, eh?" He pulls out the toy dog. It ended up on the floor after the whole fiasco with Mario. I take it from him and we head into the ICU. Sonic has a frame over his heavily-bandaged head which measures the pressure in his brain that beeps if it does too low or high. Right now, it's stable, as is everything else but he's once again unresponsive. I silently go into the room and I gently place Fluffy under his arm. I kiss him on the cheek. His muzzle's as white as a ghost, his fur stained a weird dark purple from where the blood ran down; a mixture of blue and crimson. He's so small and fragile, like before, like a child clinging to life. That in itself makes me sob. His breathing's even, like he's asleep. I land one final kiss.
"…I'll be here, OK? I'm not leaving you." MH nods at this.
"We'll all be here." He agrees, a hand on my shoulder. "All of us…always."
XO
Waiting takes days, weeks. Before I know it, a fortnight has passed us by with slow, gradual improvements. It's the start of November and a storm is blowing in from the Western countries. Tail-end of a hurricane, according to the news. I'm sitting with Sonic, holding his hand. There have been twitches, tiny, almost inaudible gasps and moans alongside the slight flick of his sensitive ears but nothing to signify he's actually responsive. Fluffy's still under his arm, uncuddled. His hand suddenly jolts alongside a sharp gasp. His breathing's out of rhythm but as I shush him it evens out. His hand slowly curls around mine as his eyes slowly open, irises fixed on the ceiling. They're blank and glassy.
"…S-Sonikku…?" I ask in a scared tone, stroking his arm. They immediately flick in my direction. They blink a few times before they slightly brighten with that gleam that I know so well. He sees Fluffy and smiles. I make Fluffy's nose nuzzle him under his chin, making him giggle. I'm not sure if he has damage yet but all seems normal thus far. "Hey…you alright?" His smile falls and he thinks, before slowly nodding. His smile returns. I hug him to the best of my ability. Thunder sounds, making Sonic yelp in fear. I glare at the window and then I look back down at him. "It's alright, it's just thunder. There's a storm." He nods in understanding and tries sitting up, but I stop him. "No, not yet. You're not strong enough." He glares at me but playfully, as there is an amused look in his eyes despite the fact they aren't fully focused. He hasn't said a word yet. Is that a bad sign? A nurse comes in and checks Sonic's vitals and looks impressed, saying he can sit up if he's careful. I help him into that position, rearranging the pillows so they support his still-bandaged head. It's extremely badly bruised and bashed; black and blue in fact. He weakly looks at me and, before I know it, three words escape his mouth, albeit slurred and almost incoherent.
"…I love you."
I smile and I kiss him on the forehead.
"I love you too, you little pincushion. We all do." His face falls and he looks away. He can't remember all of it but he knows the feelings he felt before the attack. I clasp his hands. "It's alright, we're all here for you. You mean so much to everyone, especially me." He looks at me fearfully, tears beginning to drip from his eyes. "It doesn't matter what happens. What happened wasn't your fault. I don't see how anyone can hate you for what happened." He takes this in. I can see the battle; should he trust my words or not? He comes up with an answer, evident by a smile and him wanting to rest his head on my shoulder in a loving way. He's fumbling with his hands, smile at an angle. He's so childlike and simplistic, movements a bit sluggish and repetitive. The nurse brings some activities: some paper and some crayons. Must be the only things they have. Sonic manages to get stuck in right away and even with the thick lines crayons produce, he draws a brilliant self-portrait of me. He points at the picture and then me.
"You."
"Yeah, me." I agree. His voice is not right. It's just a tangle of sounds, more like a slurred moan than a language, though I can make out what he tries to say. That and his behaviour, his skill at drawing (and his obsession with it as when the nurse suggests changing activities he violently shakes his head every time) and his hand movements…he definitely does have some damage, but not as bad as I feared. As he draws, I smile.
"You're the best person in the world, you know." He stops and stares. It's slightly creepy but his smile takes that away. He says nothing but only giggles in a high-pitched tone, seriously like a child. He kisses me on the lips, softly and not for too long. He giggles again.
"Love you."
"I love you too…we'll get through this." His face then falls.
"Home." He mutters. "Me want go home." His sense of word order is messed up. I pat his shoulder.
"We can go home soon, OK?" He nods at this. I watch him draw for a bit longer until he's starts slowing down, obviously tired. I move the tray of art out of the way and I tuck him up with Fluffy, who he cuddles like there's no tomorrow.
"Next day." He says. I nod.
"Yeah, tomorrow." It's like I'm his father. Our relationship's changed but I don't mind. I have Sonic back. That's all that matters.
