A few hours later, we're back in the waiting room. We're still distraught, but at least we know he's okay now and is getting better. Antonio is down getting food. I wasn't hungry and Francis had eaten before he had come.
"Guys." Toni says as he comes back. We both look up at him to see he's smiling.
"Why are you smiling? I know you're a happy person, but there isn't any reason to." I tell him, glaring a little.
"You'll be smiling when you come with me." he told us.
Francis and I curiously look at each other before getting up to follow Toni.
"What are you zo excited about?" Francis asks.
"Don't go running or crowding him or anything. He's a little slow right now and really sore. He seems fine besides that though."
"A-Are you saying-?"
"Zhat Mathieu is awake?" Francis finishes my question.
Toni grabs both our arms and we look at him, confused for a minute.
"Tell us!"
"Si, he is awake."
Francis and I start running to Mattie's room, or at least we would have if Toni didn't have our arms.
"Don't startle him. If you do, they won't let you see him."
We both slow down and stop, nodding.
"Alright."
"Fine."
Toni nods and brings us to his room.
Mattie POV
I had woken up not too long ago. I'm sore and my head hurts a little, but I can only hear my own thoughts. I don't know how long that will last though. I don't have much time to think because I hear people coming in. I look over and see Gil, Francis, and Antonio.
"Birdie." Gil softly says, smiling widely. "How are you feeling?"
"Fine, I guess. I can't feel my arms though." I quietly tell him.
"I'm so glad you're better." Francis says. I nod a little. He smiles sadly and brushes some hair out of my face.
"Are you okay, though?" Gil asks, sounding worried.
I look down at the end of the bed, thinking. I feel better than I have in a while. I still feel depressed, but better. I nod. "Yeah, I think so."
He smiles a bit. "I'll make sure you get better."
"We all will." Antonio adds.
I'm silent for a moment before passively saying, "Alright."
"Birdie...Don't you want to get better?" Gil asks, sitting next to the bed.
"I don't know."
"You don't...What do you mean you don't know?"
I look over at him. "This is all I've known for a long while. I don't know anything else."
He frowns slightly. "Birdie..."
Francis gently places a hand on his shoulder. "You'll be happy again, Mathieu."
I just nod.
Gil sighs softly and gently takes my hand. I don't feel it though.
They stay for a while, talking, and I just nod when I should, or know I probably should. Eventually, though, Francis and Toni leave, which leaves just Gil and me.
Gil looks at me when they leave, coming closer to the bed. he holds my hand close.
"I'll make sure you're OK. I can't stand to see you hurt."
"...G-Gil?" I softly ask after a few minutes.
"Yes, Birdie?"
"You...Earlier, did you...Did you say you love me?" I quietly and cautiously ask.
He smiles and nods. "Yeah. Of course I meant it Birdie. I couldn't lie to you." He gently kisses my hand. "I wouldn't dream of lying to the person I love."
"Thank you." I softly tell him.
"No need to thank me for saying something that's true."
I tried smiling a little, but I knew it wouldn't look like a smile. It makes Gil happy, though. His smile widens when he sees it.
"I'll help you learn to smile."
I nod. "Okay."
He smiles a little sadly. "I swear, everything will be OK."
I nod a little.
"Are you tired, Birdie? You haven't said much, and after going through something like this your body is probably tired and needs to do a lot to get you better."
I shrug a little. "I don't know."
He gently and carefully rubs my shoulder a bit. "You should get some sleep. I'll be right here waiting for you to wake up."
I look down a little.
"Really. I will be. Don't you worry about anything. I'll stay right here with you." He gently kisses my hand. "I promise."
I look at him a little worriedly.
"Sleep. You need it."
I nod a little and slowly close my eyes. I feel him gently stroking my hair a little. I don't mind and soon drift off to sleep
((a/n: i know it's short, so don't tell me it is. i got some writer's block, so it may be a long while til the next chapter is up. i'll try to think of where to go from here though. if you have an idea of where it could immediately go from here, please pm the idea to me. i could use the help.))