The Commander's staring at his hands and breathing far heavier than you think he should be, but you're not really paying attention to him. Instead, you're focused on Eaglebones, who you thought had just smashed his head open but is now getting out of the van to inspect the side of it, muttering about how his dad is going to kill him. Ricky has parked up properly and dashed over, too, and the two of them are having a conversation outside that seems appropriately panicked. You don't know what's going on really, still quite dazed about it actually happening, but you decide to focus on the human sat with you instead, worried about your best friend's wellbeing.
"You okay, buddy?" you ask, leaning around his seat.
"I put my arm out."
"What?"
"I put my arm out to stop Eaglebones slamming into his seatbelt or anything. He'd break something."
"That's what happened, huh?"
"He just bumped his head, wasn't that hard at all."
You nod, completely relieved – you weren't really focused on all of the details when the van got smashed into. All the same, you can't shake the feeling that something's still wrong, judging by the way the Commander is acting. He leans back in the seat, but it's hardly relaxed: his posture is strange and awkward. But you still can't see him properly, and you're struggling with your seatbelt, so you fight with it a minute longer and get out of the van, heading to the front seat and opening his door. He still just sits there, so oddly robotic that it makes you uncomfortable (even you don't look like that), and you find yourself having to undo his seatbelt for him and help him out of the chair, practically lifting him up and supporting him.
"It feels weird," he confesses, and you have no idea what he's talking about until he stands in front of you properly and you notice how much his shoulder is drooping on one side.
"Don't look at it," you snap at him.
"What—"
"Don't."
You're a lot more aggressive than you'd intended in enforcing this, but you're glad – you put your arm around him, half in his face so that he can't turn his head properly, and he leans against you as if he has no choice in the matter, practically falling over.
"Ricky? Get your car, we need to go."
It sounds urgent when you call to him, you know. And the Commander clearly does, too, as now he's struggling and trying to get away from you to get a good look. He yanks away, his arm slack and down by his side, unmoving, and notices the bone sticking out at the top of his shoulder, making a weird bump in his jacket. Annoyed with the fact that you didn't anticipate it, you grab him quickly as his legs buckle and he collapses in shock, thinking to yourself that your penance for not keeping him away would be trying to get the unconscious Commander into the back of the car.
The jingle of Ricky tossing his car keys from one hand to the other, mixed with the beeps of hospital equipment, is starting to get on your nerves. You decide against saying anything to him though, the pair of you sat alone in the waiting room – he's staring off into space, and you feel that letting him just do his own thing would be the right course of action, as opposed to complaining at him.
"You know," he starts after a long period of silence, making you jump slightly. "Today has kinda sucked, but it's kinda good, too."
Nodding encouragingly, you try and get him to explain himself. But bizarrely, you're already agreeing.
"I thought… I dunno. I missed you guys, but I thought seeing you again would mess me up."
Ricky sighs, stopping fiddling with his keys and holding them tightly, hands practically balling into fists. It doesn't take long before you notice he's starting to cry, either, but you don't know what to do about it.
"I just… I can't look at you guys and not think about Crash," he continues, voice trembling. "It still hurts, I – I hear the Commander on the radio sometimes in the gym and yet I'm not thinking about him, I'm thinking about Crash. I walk past Bones' store, but when I see him, it's just…"
He's lost it, you can tell. Ricky just drops his head, arms resting against his knees as he leans forward in his chair, people around you looking over at him as he cries without holding back, like a child. Nervously, slowly, you put an arm around him and in an instant find him hugging you tightly, head buried against your chest, and openly sobbing as if he has no control of it. The pair of you just sit together like that for a while, and you hug him back, suddenly not caring about the perceptions of those around you.
For God's sake, you think, he's still just a kid after all this time.
No amount of constantly chattering on a cell phone, new reputation and nice clothing is gonna hide the fact that Ricky is still just a boy who needs you, needs his family. Needed all of you, and that's why it's hit him so hard. Bones appears from around the corner, looking at the pair of you huddled together as Ricky dampens the front of your shirt, and just shrugs as if it's to be expected. In a way, you suppose it is.
"He's fine," huffs Eaglebones as he comes closer, waiting for the pair of you to get up. "He dislocated his shoulder and he's being a gigantic baby about it. The doctor put it back in with like, no problem."
You can't help but chuckle slightly, and neither can Ricky as he pulls away from you, sniffling. Both of you follow Eaglebones through the polished white corridor, leaving a bunch of incredibly confused civilians behind you.
"Why is everything bad ever happening to me today?" cries the Commander, rubbing the top of his arm, and you can see Ricky putting his hands on his hips out of the corner of your eye. At least his complete lack of indoor voice and fondness for being overly dramatic lets you know he's not feeling out of sorts any more.
"It's fine," he tells him, laughing, and Eaglebones nods, copying his stance. The Commander frowns at them both, his nose scrunching up, before he points a finger accusingly at the nametag on the guitarist's shirt.
"Yeah, well, you owe me one," he sputters.
"I know," replies Bones almost immediately, somewhat surprising him with his utter seriousness. "Pretty sure you saved my life."
There's a strange, stunned silence in the hospital room for a minute, and the pair of them just keep staring at each other. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, the Commander opens his arms out wide and rolls his eyes melodramatically as if it's the most ridiculous thing he's ever done – but Bones gets it immediately, lunging forward, and for a moment you're scared he's gonna get punched in the face for the second time today. He hugs him tightly, and you can see for a second a twitch on the Commander's face that lets you know it's probably a bit too hard considering everything he's gone through today. Either way, it's worth it and you know it. Ricky's joining in now, tearing up again, and MCBC has unintentionally started a group hug – you couldn't keep out, either. Today has been horrible, and wonderful, and everything you missed for so long. Your entire world has been flipped all around again, and you never want it to go back. Bones is the first one to stop it, and you're surprised by this considering his initial reaction… Then you realise there's another figure in the doorway, arms folded, watching you all hugging each other with a bemused look on his face. The sunglasses and the fact that he's wearing a dressing gown out in public don't really help you determine a likeness, but thanks to your friend you realise who it is soon enough.
"Uh, hi, Dad," Eaglebones says so nervously it's practically a squeak, his feathers prickling out more, puffing out around his face slightly.
"Don't start about the van," he says immediately, removing the glasses and showing a warm expression beneath that outer layer of bizarre intimidation. You have to admit, despite his lanky frame and apparent lack of understanding about what types of clothes are socially acceptable, he could look pretty threatening. "It was a piece of crap anyway. I'm just glad you and your friends are safe."
Bones is beaming, and as you break up the rest of the hug, he walks over to the other man – who walks straight past him, clasping hands with the Commander in a firm handshake.
"Condor Falconhawk," he states coolly, "Nice to finally meet you."
You can see a grin appear on his face, and you notice that his tooth is still black, wondering how you missed it before.
"MC Bat Commander," he replies, booming and full of pride. "I hate hospitals. You guys wanna get out of here already?"