The two walked quickly, making no conversation. For Riku's part, even if he had been physically capable, emotionally was a different story. It took all of his focus not to let his feelings show bare on his face from their linked hands. His fingers would twitch every now and then, playing off the desire to interlace those as well. For Sora's part, he was too busy trying to remember the quickest route to the nearest doctor's office. He couldn't let Riku be without treatment any longer.

"There it is!" Sora loudly exclaimed to the open, night air. Riku dully noted that he could see his warm breath. The smaller boy's pace quickened as he pulled them both before the glass doors of the entrance. "Are you okay?" Sora turned to him before moving forward. Riku shakily nodded, hardening his mouth into a neutral line. Sora nodded, and headed inside.

Sora finally stopped in front of the desk emblazoned with "Reception".

"Hello? My friend is hurt," Sora's voice rang with determination and authority. Riku was always in awe of the way his personality would shift whenever someone was in need of help.

A small head of black hair poked out from above the massive desk. Her voice practically bubbled with energy. "Please remain calm," she soothed, and Riku could tell she was smiling even without seeing her. "A doctor for emergencies is available immediately."

Sora exhaled in relief. "Oh, good." He continued without missing a beat. "Where do we go?"

Riku then saw a small hand pop up, pointing at the nearby doors no doubt leading further inside the building's depths. "Through there. Room 13, on the left."

"Okay, thank you!" Sora replied immediately. "Come on, Riku," he urged, but Riku was past the point of needing verbal instruction. He only needed to feed off Sora's physical actions, like reacting to a wave in water.

And so, he followed through the doors.

After Sora knocked on the instructed door, a cool voice rang from within. "Come in," they urged.

The older woman urged them to sit across from her. The two both nodded and obliged, facing her. Riku tried to feel nothing when Sora broke his hold upon sitting down.

"My name is Doctor Anise," she breathed. "Tell me what happened."

Her voice was deep and slow, practically exuding calm. It seemed to be infectious, as Riku's breathing matched its rhythm. It was all the more startling, then, when Sora's fearful tirade began. "We were walking in the woods-the Atlassian Woods, and, and fell down the side of a cliff. Riku—My friend, he, he shielded me from the fall." Sora looked down like a puppy who had made their first mess. "He's really hurt," he choked up.

"How did you get out?" Her choice of words put her no-nonsense attitude on display, seeking the heart of the problem from the get-go.

"We climbed," Sora answered.

"And then you came straight here?"

"Yes, we just got here, but more importantly—" Sora was cut-off.

"How do you feel?" Her question was directed at Riku. Sora looked on, worried.

The larger boy put his hand on his throat, and made a small attempt at words. The result was something resembling an 'ah'.

"You can't speak?" Her voice betrayed no worry, but slight surprise. Riku only shook his head, not dropping his gaze.

"Any other injuries?" She asked. "Just bruises and a few cuts," Sora responded. "I used Cure on Riku a few times, so it isn't as bad as it was."

The doctor stood up. "Come along. We'll have x-rays taken of the two of you after you're administered potions."

Sora shrugged her worries away. "I'm fine—" He was once again cut-off.

"That wasn't up for a discussion," her tone bore authority absolute.

Sora gulped. "O-okay."

The potion was bitter. Extra strength, which meant more medicinal ingredients. Sora stuck out his tongue in disgust after swallowing one final, extra large gulp. Couldn't do it quickly enough, he mused as the familiar glowing warmth expanded throughout his being. He exhaled, finding the action noticeably easier, his ribcage now free of its prior bruising.

"You still make that face whenever you drink these."

Sora turned to where he was sure that familiar voice was coming from. "Riku!" His grimace was replaced with a broad smile. He peeked down to the empty bottle the taller boy was holding. "The potion worked?" He didn't pause for breath. "You can talk again?"

Riku could only tilt his head, taken aback by the smaller boy's sudden excitement. He's like a puppy, Riku chuckled. The sound was just as breathy and strained as before.

Sora's face went pale, and his excited rhythm devolved into spastic, hurried staccatos. "Riku? You can talk, can't you?"

Riku frowned under the pressure. He wasn't even sure what he would try to say. After thinking about it, he decided, and opened his mouth to try.

Sora waited.

Nothing.

Riku's frown deepened, feeling stifled once again.

Sora's breathing increased in its pace. "But," he breathed more than he needed. "But I just heard you."

Riku looked at him, equally worried. He wanted to say something.

Sora's eyes searched his own. "You made fun of me," he exhaled, exhausted. "Like you always do."

The taller boy's chest felt constricted, and he quickly reached out his hand before he could rationalize the action and their current surroundings. It landed on the top of Sora's brown tufts, and he circled his palm around the area.

Please, calm down, he thought, wishing for telepathy. Such an ability would keep his current embarrassment levels down. No, wait, he realized. Telepathy would be worse.

Sora was oblivious to the inner hypothetical debate his older friend was currently lost in. He instead took in a more collected, thoughtful breath. "Why are you consoling me? Aren't you worried?"

Riku offered him a small smile. Of course I'm worried, he thought, but it won't do any good to dwell on it.

He so badly wished he could tell him that.

The nearby nurse interrupted them, timidly. "Um, excuse me, but," she paused when their surprised looks registered her presence. "But, Doctor Anise informed me that you were both to have your x-rays taken."

Riku quickly removed his hand, the sudden action drawing Sora's attention. Is Riku's face… red? He wondered.

Riku stepped forward, lining up behind the nurse.

Sora's eyebrows furrowed, not used to such a cold action from his best friend. He shook his head, chalking it up to being in a hurry to find the cause of his inability to speak, and quietly lined up behind him.