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Arriving at the hospital was supposed to go smoothly, although it didn't when Roxas started yelling at the top of his lungs at who he deemed was the culprit of this whole thing…
"Riku!" Sora cried when he saw his best friend and ran up to him for a nice hug, though the man slightly stiffened at the touch.
"Riku…you're wet," he noted before looking up at Axel whose clothes also showed signs of being wet.
"Yeah…I-"
"RIKU!" Roxas's hand reached in and pulled on the silverette's shirt to push him away from Sora's grip, "What kind of idiot goes out in the middle of the night and what kind of idiot LET'S something happen to VENTUS?"
"Roxas!" the only female of the group exclaimed at his behavior and would've went to pull him back if Riku didn't halt in his movement and pushed back against Roxas's momentum.
"I didn't LET it happen…" Riku sneered while glaring back with a challenge, "Unlike a certain someone in this hallway…"
"Whoa, I didn't let it happen either!" Axel immediately piped and Riku felt the urge to roll his eyes,
"I wasn't talking about you, Axel," Riku stated without taking his eyes off Roxas. The two stared each other down and continued to do so until Roxas slowly started losing…
"Oh…erm, carry-on…" The red-head slipped past the two and joined Sora who immediately requested an explanation on what happened.
"…Why are you looking at me like that?" Roxas found himself asking as he felt the need to look away but he forced himself to put up a brave front.
"…Ven wanted to pass on a message to you. He said he forgives you…and that he's sorry."
"…For what?"
"Didn't say…although I have a hunch it has something to do with an accident Ven mentioned that involved you and 'heights'..."
Suddenly Riku became poison to Roxas as the blonde retracted his hand and jumped back with wide eyes.
"Even though I know I didn't let it happen, I do take the responsibility for it happening. I understand your anger, Roxas, but I don't like how you don't even bother to check on Ven, who fell off a cliff and into a river below, but instead you rush to me to pin a blame on someone."
"He WHAT?" After that exclamation, Roxas felt his voice get caught.
"So Riku and I immediately went into the river to rescue him. I took the long way but made it in time," Axel explained in which Roxas found his ears picking up on.
"Then what way did Riku take?" Sora asked in worry,
"…He jumped in after Ventus…" the red-head murmured and glanced at Riku, "I told him to ask the doctors and nurses to get himself looked at but…he said not until after Ven is alright."
Sora glanced back at his best friend to see a couple scratches and some bruises showing up…
"Is that why he stiffened up?"
"Roxas! Rikku!" All heads turned in one direction to see the chocobo-for-hair man run up to them while trying to catch his breath,
"Bro!" Rikku exclaimed in surprise but Cloud only gave her a glance, about to ask what the in blazes she's doing here and when she got here but knew there were bigger matters and questions at hand. Sora's eyes slightly widened at the (very nice) sight but made himself look away before he acts out of his place in the wrong time.
"Ven's status, now!" Cloud ordered after he ran into a stop while breathing heavily.
"Still being checked up on," Leon replied and they had to meet eyes for Cloud to realize an important fact. The two didn't tear away from each other's sights for a moment until Cloud finally broke away first and his hand awkwardly felt the back of neck.
"…You're here…too…?" he muttered, practically to himself, as his eyes shifted before he tried to regain his posture, "Um…th-thanks, Leon. Erm…first off: what happened and who am I yelling at first?"
The heads looked among themselves for a moment before Riku stepped away from the shorter blonde, who flinched when the other moved, to approach Cloud.
"I would be the one to yell at…" he confessed and bowed apologetically, "I took Ven out late…and I took my eyes off him for a moment…and-"
"Hold on, who are you?" Cloud cut in, "I remember you ran into Ven but what exactly is your relationship with-?"
"He's my best friend," Sora piped, "…And Ven's friend."
"…Small world…" Cloud murmured to himself once more.
"I could've said the same thing a few hours ago," Leon added and Cloud wanted to groan, knowing exactly what he was referring to. Before any more could be said, the group was approached by the doctor.
"He…will live."
A wave of relief fell among them, even if it wasn't likely to begin with according to Axel.
"But he's got broken bones and caught a fever among some injuries. He'll have to spend some days here. Where are his parents?"
Cloud mentally kicked himself for not waking up his parents. He wasn't sure if he was just stupid for forgetting or he started thinking of himself as that child's parent at this point.
"Um…Rikku go call them please…" he softly ordered before stepping forward, "They'll be here soon. I'm his oldest brother and an adult."
"Very well, follow me."
"I have to say, Mr. Strife, the boy got lucky."
Roxas shuttered upon overhearing them as they passed by him. He backed up until his body hit the wall while breathing heavily.
"He got very lucky…"
"I'm his big brother! Let me see him!"
"Mom…? It's Rikku…"
Roxas's head snapped to where Rikku stood, holding a phone while holding in some tears. Her voice lightly cracked and she huddled her own body a bit as she stood away from the rest of the group.
"Mommy…Ven is hurt…"
"That's a great distance you both fell, you really need to get yourself checked," Axel told Riku again while gently pushing him down onto one of the seats.
"He hit his head a on the way down…"
"Roxas!" Rikku called for the boy who jumped upon hearing his name, "Mom wants a word!" she said and started walking over to hand the cell over to him.
"How could you be so IRRESPONSIBLE? This is all your fault!"
"No…" Roxas shook his head and backed away from his sister and especially a talk with his mother, "No…" he repeated once more before his eyes raced itself across all the faces that surrounded him. Finally, he spotted Cloud and the doctor again as they stood before what he assumed was Ven's room, about to enter, and the boy snapped. With a cry and tears streaming down his face, Roxas ran…
"Roxas…?" and without hesitation, Cloud went after his brother after a quick excuse of himself, "Rikku! Stay and look after Ven and wait for the parents!" he quickly ordered over his shoulder before speeding himself up to catch up to Roxas.
But the boy being called didn't stop or slow down as every fiber in his body wanted to get out…and never come back.
By the time Cloud raced outside of the hospital, Roxas was lost from his sight.
"Roxas!" he shouted and jogged in one direction before switching to another, "Roxas!"
He kept going this time while pulling out his phone to call Roxas instead. But the boy didn't answer, not that Cloud really expected him to. Still he continued to cry out the boy's name. When one direction didn't seem likely, he turned to another.
"Roxas! Answer me! Roxas!"
"Hey!"
Cloud looked over his shoulder to see the (in?)famous scar on that firm face and now he wasn't sure if he was supposed to be afraid of another moment of awkwardness between them or just completely forget their "history" for a moment. Cloud waited for the man and soon Leon stood before him.
"Any luck?"
Cloud lowered his head and simply shook it.
"Thought so…we're all looking though, so don't worry…"
"Oh…thank you…I don't know what's wrong with him. I just…" Cloud ran a hand through his hair as he glanced around the street he's on.
"He couldn't have gotten far on foot. Any place he would be comfortable going? Any secret hiding spot?"
"If I knew that, I'd look there first," Cloud stated and then sighed, "But you're right, he couldn't have gotten far. Thanks for helping, Leon…"
"Of course…my brother is looking too. I'll look that way," Leon motioned his head to the other side of the street that turned right up a head.
With a decent number of people looking on foot, Cloud felt a bit more relieved about the whole thing.
Leon scanned for any possible hiding spots as he fast-walked and checked if there was something he spotted. Still, that young blonde was nowhere to be found…at least not yet.
"Roxy! Roxy! Come on, Roxas! Answer me!" Sora called out but all he was met with was silence. He didn't get it…Roxas's actions today were completely foreign to him.
"Hey, don't look so down, we'll find him."
Sora looked up to the side to see Axel give a light smile for comfort.
"It's not finding him I'm worried about…" Sora sighed and looked ahead again, "It's just…I feel like I suddenly don't really know Roxas at all now…"
Axel patted the boy at the shoulder but offered only silence as they continued looking.
"So…what was Riku doing out with you and Ven anyway?" the boy asked out of curiosity to how the whole thing even started.
"Well…I was out because I was kicked out of my room…I think Riku invited Ven out to show him a nice view."
"Nice view?" Sora raised a brow and looked up at the other with a confused look although Axel gave one back as well.
"Has he never taken you to that nice spot at night with the colorful overview of the city? I honestly stumbled upon it on accident myself."
The brunette only shook his head, with a hint of betrayal on his face.
"Riku…shared something like that with Ven but not me?"
"…" Axel couldn't help but feel somewhat responsible for something he didn't really do…for once in his life, "Hey, you can always talk about it with him after this is aaaall over."
"But still…I'm his best friend! What's Ventus to him?"
"Uh…" The green eyes slightly shifted as his brain scrambled for an answer, "Beats me? A crush maybe?"
Sora practically gapped at that replied and halted in his walk.
"Riku? I've never heard of Riku wanting anything to do with love and I've known him for so long!"
Axel had to turn around and take a few steps back to face Sora again,
"Well I don't know, I was just throwing out ideas."
"Based on what?"
"Well…the time they've spent together and the fact they were holding hands when I found them although I guess that CAN be misinterpreted."
"…"
"Erm, hey! Don't take it to heart! I mean…as you said, you've known him the longest! I'm probably just spouting nonsense!"
Sora let out a sigh and then started walking again while keeping an eye out for signs of blonde hair.
"Don't talk as if I'm in love with him," Sora stated only to have Axel give him a look as he followed.
"You're not? Then what's with the gloomy-depressed and sense of hurt I'm getting from you?"
"…I thought Riku and I tell each other everything is all…"
The red-head didn't respond at first, thus giving the two another moment of silence. Suddenly Sora felt the other's hand in his hair, messing it up more than it already was.
"Don't be silly. You of all people should know that Riku isn't the type to say whatever comes to his mind. Even to his best friend. And you say you knew him the longest," Axel teased and pinched the boy's cheeks, "Silly kid."
"H-Hey! Meanie!"
"Yes I am! Haha!"
There were only so many places to hide and the boy didn't exactly leave silently so if they can't see him…they might be able to hear him. Leon walked in the grass that sat beside the street when he entered a nearby neighborhood. His ears carefully picking up any sort of human-sound while his eyes carefully scanned any place someone would hide themselves out of desperation. Whenever the man had to walk off the grass, such as to cross a street, he walked slower and more careful to keep the area silent save for the crickets. Soon, his eyes caught sight of the neighborhood's park and he turned heals to head in to the abandoned play-area. Gently stepping onto the woodchips, he looked under the general set-up and then behind slides. Seeing nothing he looked at the slides and his eyes followed the set-up only seeing bars, nets, wheels attached, colorful numbers, a tube leading to the other end, and a cube on that side with a see-through half-sphere on top. Walking around, the scarred lion walked up the mini-steps, made a quick glance into the tube and then stood himself before the giant box and knelt down.
"…Hey," he greeted softly to the young blonde huddled in there while hiding his face in his knees. The other didn't respond and Leon half-crawled into the compacted space with only his upper half actually in. He rested on his elbows while he carefully examined the younger boy, "Hey…Roxas." One hand reached up and gently shook Cloud's younger brother, "Everyone's worried. What are you doing hiding in a place like this? Let me take you back, and then you can see Ventus."
Roxas didn't respond but quickly shook his head as he hid his face deeper in his arms.
"…Alright, if that's really what you want. I'll be right out here while I wait for Cloud to come get y-"
"Don't call for Nii-San!" Roxas exclaimed, finally lifting his head. For the first time since knowing of each other's existence, they truly met eyes for the first time. A pale face stained with tears and eyes filled with buried emotions rather than the color it came with…
"…Alright…I won't," Leon responded as he crawled back out and sat right outside like he said. With a confused look, Roxas went back to his previous position…but not for very long as the confusion ate him. Not even 10 minutes passed when Roxas slowly peered out to see the older man leaning back, looking at stars if Roxas had to guess. Without word, he slipped himself beside him in the already small area they had to begin with.
"…How long will you…be here?" Roxas whispered softly while staring below at the woodchips.
"For as long as I need to."
"…Why?"
"…Because you're my brother's friend…and my friend's brother."
"…I see…"
"Also because…when I looked at you…" Leon paused for a moment, and in turn, made Roxas look up at him, "I saw someone distraught and buried in their own misery. Something I know quite well. So I knew…you needed someone closer than me, if I wanted you to move from that spot."
"…The only one that could do that…would be Ven…" Roxas shook his head as he slowly lowered it once more, "And he wouldn't come…"
"I beg to differ," Leon stated and looked down at the blonde spikes, "From what I see and what I know…Ven very much would come for you and stay with you longer than I ever would."
"…I know…" Roxas choked as he took a harsh intake of breath and an obvious sound of sniffling as the tears crawled back.
"Why run from him then?"
"Because…! It's…it's my fault…how can I…? How can I look at him…?"
"How is it your fault? You weren't even there when it happened," Leon pointed out but the reasoning didn't seem to do anything as Roxas only shook his head again as he buried his face in his hands.
"Yes it is! I could've made sure he didn't go…I could've…done…SOMETHING! Anything…"
"Roxas…accidents happen. They happen and sometimes it's no one's fault. You think I got my scar on purpose?" the man questioned as his hand felt his face, feeling that injury that may never leave.
"It's my fault…I promised him…I swore I'd never let him go back to a hospital and look where he is now!"
"…Does Cloud know about why you're feeling this way?"
"…I don't know…but I…he…"
Its one thing to look lost…but to look lost and confused with the emotion radar on sky high is something else. It meant complete vulnerability…and it meant they are in a need of guidance. A strong hand lightly felt Roxas's head, who looked up in slight confusion only to see stormy blue eyes looking back.
"I may not have known Cloud for very long…but I know…I would tell him anything…"
"…Really?"
"Yeah," Leon nodded with a light shrug, "I just need to tell him that myself…among other things. But right now, what's important is getting you back to him so he, and the rest of your friends and family, can have one less thing to worry about in their lives…what do you say?"
A little bit of guidance…a single hand reaching out…is sometimes all you need to take a single step in the right direction.
The bobbing chocobo-spikes stopped when its owner halted in his steps as he felt around for his cell phone and answered as soon as he could.
"Hello?"
"Hey," Leon greeted and Cloud paused for a moment…wondering how the man got his number…
"Hey?"
"I got Roxas; we'll meet you in front of the hospital."
"Oh my-Ah…Oh gosh, thank you! Thank you! I'll be there in a flash!" Without a second thought, he turned heels and ran back as fast as his legs could take him.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
It was a silent night save for the cars driving in and out of the hospital as well as the people doing the same thing. But despite that, it was easy to make out the two figures sitting on the edge of the street, but far from the doors for in-case-of-emergency-reason.
"Roxas…" Cloud found himself whispering as he jogged up to the two. The name's owner hesitantly looked up from the ground he was staring at before. When Cloud slowed in his jog, he knelt beside the boy and pulled him into a strong protective hug. Having that moment's comfort, Roxas leaned into the hug, his face buried in the older one's shoulder. Cloud soon set the two of them apart and looked hard at the one before, "Don't you ever do that again! You hear me?"
Roxas merely stared for a moment before silently nodding and lowering his head once more.
"Good…" Cloud joined them as he sat himself beside his brother. He lifted the boy's head and his fingers pushed aside the hair blocking the blue eyes, "Now…what happened? Why did you take off like that?"
"Um…" Roxas's eyes started wandering and aiming towards the ground again. He felt a hand on his shoulder and movement behind him…
"I'll leave two alone," Leon announced as he stood up. He did a quick pat before Roxas felt that touch leave.
"…Hey," Cloud called out, just barely above a whisper to make the other stop for a moment, "…Um…thank you, really, I owe you."
"Don't think on it, it was nothing…just worry about him," Leon stated with a nod and headed back inside. He took out his cell to contact Sora and tell the boy to get back. From the bottom of his heart, he knew there was nothing to thank for. He knew if it was the reverse, the man could see Cloud would do just the same for the same reasons as what Leon's thinking right now…
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