To the Darkest of Nights We Go
~Dystopian AU ~
Chapter 44
Written By: RinoaDestiny
King of Fighters, Chizuru Kagura, Kyo Kusanagi, Iori Yagami, Terry Bogard, Andy Bogard, Mai Shiranui, Blue Mary, Rock Howard, and Joe Higashi all belong to SNK
Rock lay on his back, arms folded and hands tucked behind his head. With the strong currents of emotion running throughout the team, everyone had retired early. It was quiet now – still, with a newfound weight that settled in the soul – and he didn't hear much noise. Mary slept in silence. Joe's snores resounded from afar. With Andy's death, the Muay Thai fighter distanced himself, as did Mai. He couldn't even hear her; although she'd come in earlier, eyes bruised and weary.
Dad was in the building, too, but Rock couldn't pinpoint his location.
He only knew he wasn't beside Mary, which meant he was still up and about.
As worried as he'd been and still was for Mai, he also couldn't stop being concerned for Terry. His dad wanted to be there for them – for Mai and for Joe – but that relentless urge might be more detrimental later. Dad needed time and room to grieve; while Rock understood his responsibilities, he wouldn't fault him for leaving them alone for a bit.
There was food and water in storage. They could eat and take care of themselves.
But what about Dad? Mary was there, but she also needed time to herself and…
Everyone did. Including him, begrudging as that thought was.
Did Dad eat tonight? He couldn't recollect that happening.
Rock sighed, rolled over onto his side, and shifted the tattered jacket that served as his pillow. He should be sleeping, leaving tomorrow's worries for the next day, but the enormity of their situation made that impossible. So much had happened within such a short span of time and no one expected a death within their circle. Andy gone and their allies were…
He hadn't thought about the Sacred Treasures in a while. They, too, were deceased. Additional numbers added to the unknown, uncounted statistics of the dead.
Murasaki. Kagami. Kaen.
Iori Yagami. Chizuru Kagura. Kyo Kusanagi.
Somehow, repeating their code names and their actual names side-by-side in his head gave their nulled existence meaning. Others knew them, so they weren't just numbers lost in a sea of the dead. Gravestones and memorials served the same purpose; yet, in a bloody protracted war with survivors scattered far and wide, those weren't possible. Andy cremated – ashes to bring home to Southtown if O.R.O.C.H.I. didn't kill them first.
Wings.
Rock Howard. Himself.
Blue.
Mary Ryan. Private eye, Dad's girlfriend, and one of their pillars.
Hermit.
Andy Bogard. Late brother to Terry and beloved of Mai.
Belt.
Joe Higashi. Friend to Andy and Terry – the original team.
Fan.
Mai Shiranui. Beloved of the late Andy and friend to them all.
Wolf.
Terry Bogard. Dad, friend, brother, lover (affecting them all in some way) and the pillar of their group.
When all this was over – if it was defeat instead of victory – would those who knew them come looking? Searching for their whereabouts? Or would they gradually be forgotten, code names taken to the grave?
And if that could happen to them…
If they died, then what about the Sacred Treasures? Their contributions to the war effort lost – not even footnotes in history. Only the memories of their days as fighters would exist, but they had become more than that now.
Rock sat up, putting a hand to his forehead.
Sleep evaded him. It was impossible. His mind was active. Full.
Picking the jacket off the ground, he draped it over his shoulders and stepped out of the sleeping quarters. The place was dark, but his eyes adjusted as usual, and with a slow quiet pace, he made his way to the communications room. As he passed the storage room, he heard Joe's snores. Mai, he didn't hear at all. Weapons room? Where was she sleeping tonight?
Was Dad asleep or was he still awake?
Rock reached the door to the communications room and opened it, the metal handle cool to the touch. The lights were off, but thinking about it now, there was nowhere else Terry could be. He remembered when Mai and Andy first encountered trouble in Hirano and how Dad had remained in the room, eyes bloodshot. The place was a sanctuary of sorts. For him, Dad, and Joe.
He closed the door behind him, click minimal.
The sound of a chair turning.
"Who is it?"
Dad. As he'd suspected. "It's me, Dad. It's Rock."
"Why aren't you asleep?"
"I tried. Can't."
"Too much on your mind?"
"Yeah." He couldn't see Terry despite hearing his voice. "You want the lights on?"
"If you want. Though I think you probably know the room by now."
He turned the lights on, waited for his eyes to readjust again, and then walked over to where Terry was. Pulled the second chair out and sat down across from him. His dad's face was seamed, each line a story of the wear-and-tear Andy's death had caused. Age in Terry's eyes – he wasn't that old, yet – accompanied by a pallor induced by lack of sleep. Maybe he should tell Dad to…
"How's Mary?"
"Sleeping."
"She's not having nightmares, is she?"
"No."
"That's good." The blond man across from him shifted in his seat, leaning forward. "She lost someone a long time ago. Wasn't sure if this'll bring that back."
"Worried about Mai."
"Yeah. Me, too. How is she?"
"She didn't leave the building, did she?"
"Don't think so." Terry rubbed the back of his neck. "I didn't hear anyone go out."
"Joe, too. He's been quiet."
"I'll check on him. Can't let them isolate themselves too long."
"Dad?"
"Yeah, Rock?"
"How are you holding up?"
Terry studied him, weary gaze sympathetic. "Funny you should ask. I was wondering the same about you."
"I'm fine. At least…it's not as…"
"You've been checking up on Mai and Joe. Me and Mary, even. But I haven't talked to you, yet. Seen how you are."
"I…" Andy's demise was impactful, but he had a lesser degree of familiarity which reduced his mental paralysis. "I'm trying, Dad. To be helpful."
"I know. Thankful for that. But, Rock…how is it really for you?"
He glanced down at the floor, if only for something to preoccupy him while he considered his inner thoughts. He felt Terry's gaze focused on him, as the older man patiently awaited his response. Rock reached up, tugging his jacket closer to his body and pondered. What was it really like for him? He was concerned. Anxious. Aware of the invisible cracks forming in their team. Mai's mental state. Joe's silences.
Himself, though?
There was pain, of course. Andy was family, despite never being directly addressed as such. It hurt worse to see the others reeling – grappling for understanding as to why. He did what had to be done: being there for Dad, for Mary – to lend a hand when necessary. Anything else never entered his mind. He was Dad's son, right? So why wouldn't he…
"When you have to, son, rest. Don't want you wearing yourself out."
Odd that Dad said what he'd been thinking.
"You, too, Dad."
"I'm a leader, son. It's a bit different."
"We need you." Terry knew it; they all did. Which was why… "Mai and Joe aren't the only ones I'm worried about."
His dad's expression softened. "Heh. You sound like me."
"I am your son."
"Yeah. I see that." This time, Terry didn't ruffle his hair. Instead, he smiled at him – a buoy to uplift his spirit. "Just don't be like your old man and overdo it, okay? Mary already has enough to take care of."
Rock smiled back. "I'll try not to. Go to sleep, Dad. I'll be all right."
"You sure?"
"Yeah."
"Then, I'll see you tomorrow. Don't stay up too late."
"I won't."
Comments: Back to this fic. =) Wasn't gonna leave it hanging. However, updates will be sporadic, as I'm still technically in the busy season at work. Fortunately, I left off at a spot where I could easily continue, so onward this goes.
