Sidequest

Hiro’s eyelids fluttered, his face scrunched up, he groaned quietly in the back of his throat... but he didn’t wake up. Kelsi’s hands tightened on his shoulders. His half-conscious groan turned into a pained whine and she let him go, sharply throwing herself away from him. She barely managed to get her legs under her as she flung herself off the bed. She walked up to the window and pressed her ear against it, tears welling up in her eyes uncontrollably. She couldn’t hear Suzie screaming anymore. Worse, she couldn’t hear her fighting.

All she could hear was Suzie screaming anymore. Worse, she couldn’t hear her fighting.

All she could hear was her own breaths getting louder and faster. She pushed away from the window only to immediately fall against the wall again, her feet unsteady.

Her sight was becoming blurry, whether from tears or her shallow breaths she wasn’t sure. Her nails dragged down the wall, unable to stop her slow collapse to the floor.

The guest room door slammed open and Kelsi let out a choked scream, whirling around to see Alphonse stumble in, half- supporting, half-dragging a bleeding Suzie. Apathy and disdain were the expressions Kelsi had come to expect on Alphonse’s face whenever he looked at her but now he looked at her with pure rage, “you useless, cowardly piece of shit! Get off your ass and do something.”

Kelsi flinched against the wall, her mouth falling open but no words coming out. Alphonse was usually as good at moving silently as she was but he stomped into the room, loud and heavy. Kelsi winced with each of his steps.

“You’re such a pathetic, little-”

“Lay off her, Al.” Suzie’s hoarse voice said, cutting him off. She struggled to raise her head. One of her hair ties had snapped leaving her with one afro puff and one next of hair only half holding its shape. Blood dripped from under her armor and from the side of her head.

Alphonse gently lowered her into the chair, though it was clear from his expression that he wanted to just throw her on the ground and be done with it. “I don’t know why you coddle her so much.” Alphonse’s glare flicked to Kelsi before settling back on Suzie.

“She shouldn’t have to risk her life and livelihood just because I-” Suzie cut herself off with a cough and a wince. She continued on with her next sentence as if her first one hadn’t been interrupted, “and you don’t either. You don’t have to go back out there... Please don’t go back out there alone.”

“Nothing I do is for you.” Alphonse stood up straighter, ran his hand through his hair and fixed his gaze on the sleeping healer. “Hiro, wanna wake up and join me?” When Hiro didn’t stir even the slightest bit, Alphonse shrugged. “Since my team consists of two invalids and a spineless worm at the moment, it seems I have to go out alone.” With one last sneer at Kelsi, he walked out of the room.

Kelsi finally managed to get her feet under her and scrambled over to Suzie. Once she was in front of her though, she hesitated, hand hovering by the wound on her head.

Suzie’s eyes were hazy and unfocused, like she was having a tough time keeping conscious, but still she smiled at her, “don’t cry, Kelsi, I’m alright.”

Despite the request in Suzie’s words, the tears gathering in Kelsi’s eyes finally spilled down her cheeks.

*

With his eyes firmly closed, Hiro could only rely on his other senses to try and figure out if Crimson was awake. Crimson’s breaths were even and slow and his arm slung across Hiro’s chest was heavy and still. All signs pointed to him being asleep, so Hiro opened his eyes, immediately finding himself looking into the ruby eyes of the Red Wolf Gang’s leader. He instinctually flinched away only to be held tighter in place, “nice of you to wake up and join me.”

Another voice layered on top of Crimson’s, speaking the same words, “...wake up and join me?” It was a familiar voice, a friendly voice.

“Alphonse!” HIro tried to struggle away, only to get pulled closer to Crimson’s chest.