Leilani ran. She couldn't see anything but she nonetheless ran, her legs working without her even forcing them to function. She was stumbling, trying to get down the mountain. In her mind was only static and the loud screams that were still coming from the hilltop. She ran faster, her chest and eyes burning. she was stumbling, sliding but she didn't stop. She just ran, ran as fast as she could manage while everything seemed to suffocate her.
A sick repetition from before, how she had once 35 years ago done the exact same thing.
Her legs numbing and the moment she crashed against another stone her leg gave out and she fell, she slithered across the ground, stones and gravel ripping open her skin until she finally stopped her fall as she collapsed against a rock.
Her whole body hurt, her whole body trembled and she wasn't even sure if it was the curcio aftereffect or if the shock from before was ringing through her.
She couldn't get herself to move, her limbs no longer listening to her. Her flames were washing over her to get rid of her injuries, only leaving holes in her suit and blood spots.
She curled into herself, holding onto herself while she was still sobbing.
It was hard to breathe not just because of the ache in her lungs from the run but because of the feeling of how her chest was pressed together. Her heartbeat was painfully pulsating through her whole body. She had a metallic taste in her mouth from biting down on her tongue.
Everything was crashing down on her, the knowledge of what she had done. What she had used and still the faces of death eaters, Voldemort, her friends. Everything was crashing down on her at once and she weeped. She sobbed out while listening to the screams she had caused.
It was weighing her down, succumbing her.
She didn't know where left or right was. barely even understanding it when the screams stopped. Completely trapped in her own mind; sorrow, mourning, grief, regret, guilt and pain circling around each other.
The Arcobalenos had split apart, everyone taking another corner of the mountain, while Skull had run down the part where Colonnello was searching, they couldn't be sure if she hadn't changed direction or where exactly she had run to. It had been decades since her running had been straight. She had learned better afterwards.
In a way it was their fault that they trained it into her which left them to the debacle of having to scan the whole mountain before they could get down. It wasn't like they could use Viper to locate her after all.
Fon ruffled through his hair. It was stressful. The shrinking was minimal but the image of Skull, how raw she had been, how hurt and how enraged as she screamed at Checkerface… it just kept pushing him forwards.
He was glad that he had his old body back, able to walk faster to look for her quicker.
They had to find her. Not just because of the fear of going back to their toddler bodies but because of the state the tiny woman was in.
Skull had killed in front of them, murder through torture. He didn't mind, he had wanted Checkerface dead long ago and the way he died was fitting for his crimes but Skull wasn't violent. She was and had always kept her civilian ideology. She didn't fight nor liked the fact what they all did. She probably was in shock. not just probably to be honest and this together with her emotions from before? A horrible mixture.
His head snapped up as soon as he heard the sobs, hurrying up his steps as he ran down the mountain, slightly sideways and following the sobnoises. The closer he got the more his shrinking had undone itself again.
He stilled as soon as he saw her, dirt and part of the plantation muddled into her hair and covering her body, the rips in her suit and the small blotches of fresh blood still on her without any visible injuries. She was curled into herself, trembling.
He slowly made his way over "Skull."
The tiny sky didn't react.
"Skull. It's me Fon." he kneeled down in front of her, his heart aching at the sight.
Gently laying a hand on her arm to pull it off her face. Tear ridden, slightly red eyes staring at him.
He had to swallow at the expression, so heavily loaded with emotions. His grip was gentle but firm as he pulled her up. She didn't protest, just kept on crying even as he pulled her in a hug.
Her tiny body trembled against him. One of his hands covering her ear and keeping her tight against his chest, the other wrapped around her. She was sobbing against him. She looked frail and terribly young like this, even more so than before, nothing like the 26 year old woman he knew she physically was.
He just held her while he let his flame pulsate through the bonds he had, guiding everyone towards them.
Viper was the one who appeared first, visibly going back to their former size as soon as they stepped in Skulls' proximity. Clearly unsure what to do as they stayed in their spot, hands wringing and hood pulled down deeply.
Colonnello was the next who ran over, immediately falling on his knees in front of Skull, his hands already reaching out to his sky.
Fon let him take over, watching silently as Colonnello let his flames wash over her, gently whispering in her ear.
It didn't take long until the rest of the Arcobaleno made their way towards them. Reborns gaze was focused on the still crying sky but he held up a set of keys "Yuni left us the mansion. It's clean. Would you be so kind, Viper?"
The mist immediately manifested one of their portals, not even asking for payment.
Colonnello tried to ask Skull if she was alright with it but she just clutched onto him like a lifeline, not speaking, just crying.
He stood up, slightly taken back with how light she was even for her size as he kept her in his arms.
The rain kept his whispers while he stepped through the portal, holding Skull securely and still relying heavily on his flames to get her breakdown under control.
He didn't even wait when they entered the home just grabbing the water bottle Verde was already holding for him and climbing up the stairs.
Lal had followed him, not speaking either but opening the door to Skull's old room for him.
He nodded thankful at her before he sat down on the freshly cleaned bed. The sky was still clutching onto him, tears were still flowing but her sobbing had stopped. He gently put one of his hands under her chin to move it away from his chest.
"Skull. You need to drink something."
She didn't answer but didn't protest either as he one handedly unscrewed the bottlecap and when he lifted the bottle to her lips she drank.
He carefully put the bottle on the nightstand, before he pulled her closer again. leaning down to place a kiss on her hair "It's going to be better tomorrow, you know. Way better."
She sniffled, back to burying herself into his chest. He grabbed the box of tissues off the same nightstand, gently using it to wipe away the wet part of her cheek he could reach.
He gently started to get rid of her shoes, pushing his own haphazardly off at the same time.
He bit on his lip as he looked at her get up "Skull? Can I help you get out of your suit?"
She nodded, slightly letting go of him but her hands rubbing over her eyes again.
"Give me a second." he quickly shrugged off his jacket and pulled his own t-shirt off, setting it aside to open up her zipper. His eyes completely focused on her face and as soon as he had managed to get the top part off he picked up his shirt to pull it over her, even going as far as helping her with the sleeves.
He had been completely correct in his assumption. His shirt covered her even over her knees. He helped her get rid of the suit, placing it aside. Using the chance to again wipe some of her tears away before leaning his forehead against hers "I'm here. You're not alone. You can cry, you can let everything out because I'm here to share your pain. I've got you." his hands on her cheek and looking straight in her reddened tearleaking eyes that long had lost her contact lenses from the furious rubbing "You're not going through this alone."
He pulled her down with him, carefully dragging the blanket over them and wrapping his arms around her again.
"I've got you, kora." she buried herself more in his chest and he could feel her still running tears on his bare skin. "I've got you and I'm here. I won't go away. You got me, Skull and tomorrow it will be better. It always is, right?"
He tightened his grip as he heard her sniffle.
He stayed awake for hours, wiping her tears away, making sure she took small sibs of her water, rubbing over her back and whispering reassurances at her. He stayed awake even while her exhaustion had already taken her, just keeping up his routine until his own eyes fell shut when her breathing evened out. His flames lingering over her the whole time, keeping nightmares away.