And with that, Hawk pushed the front doors open. The survivors' ears were immediately greeted by birdsong, car noises and distant conversations. For now the world seemed unaware of their presence, and they basked in the feeling of just being here. Soon there would be phone calls, the media, worried friends and family. But for now, they appreciated what they had: normalcy once more.
Danganronpa F9: Re: Current Sin - END
Survivors
Hawk
Caitlin
Felix
Hella
Mikoto
Nico
Yves
Epilogue
[#spoiler=Hawk]
The gravel path crunched under the tires as the car ascended slowly up the hill, the occupants currently hidden by the windows and the glare from the dawning sun just to the east. Soon enough, it stopped, the engine purring for a moment longer before it was turned off.
The driver's door opened, a heavy boot stepping out and crunching against the gravel, bearing the weight of the older man, his beard noticeably longer, though still well maintained. Scars marred his face, one especially noticeable across his cheek. Across his shoulders was a thick coat, especially at the shoulders, most likely due to the eagle that flapped its wings behind him and squawked angrily.
"Then go hunt. But stay close. We won't be here long," he spoke softly, reaching inside the backseat with his left hand.
The harpy eagle squawked again, stumbling out of the car and taking to the sky, quickly dwindling to a small pinprick as the old man straightened. He nestled a bouquet of flowers in the crook of his right arm, and in his left, he carefully held a bottle of whiskey and two cups.
He continued the journey up the hill on foot, taking his time. He was no longer a spring chicken, and events had conspired to ensure he remembered how old he was getting. But he was going to make it, one way or another.
At the top of the hill, he finally took in a deep breath, and smiled at the gravestone there. In front of it was a sword, broken, missing its handguard and with its grip hanging loosely by some threads, intent on keeping it together.
"Hello again, old friend," he continued softly. "It has been a very long time."
He walked up to the gravestone, setting the flowers onto its base, then sitting down in front of it, unstoppering the whiskey and pouring out two drinks.
"I'm sorry I didn't make it back sooner," he sighed out, stoppering the whiskey and setting it aside. "Things got... Difficult for a while. On my first day at the job, we all got transported to a hell realm. ... Save for myself, none of the staff made it out alive, and their deaths were nothing but a twisted game."
He looked down into the amber liquid, swirling it this way and that.
"I failed. I failed to do the one thing I thought I had to do. I couldn't protect any of them. Perhaps you would... No. You wouldn't laugh."
He turned his gaze to the sky, pensive.
"You would have said, 'We cannot protect everyone, and we cannot save everyone. We must save our energy for when we can protect and save, and not waste it before.'"
A chuckle, a shake of the head, a sigh.
".... Can people as bloody as us really save others, though? Should we try? And for what? To atone for our sins? Equivalent exchange? I do not understand. But I suppose I probably won't; after all, I was just another blade in the armory."
He considered the amber liquid again.
"I made a couple friends. Both died. But one asked me what my favored drink was. I told him whiskey. But that was always your favorite. Then again... We're one and the same."
Toss the drink back, shake the head as it burned on the way down.
"Well. I'll try to not get involved with any other plots involving demonic summoning. No promises, though. Hell might need a bit of cleaning out.
"..."
His hand brushes against the tombstone, feeling the letters that have nearly worn away.
"... If I try, will I find you again, old friend? Will I find all of you, and we can be together again...?"
His hand falls to his side, and he sighs again, shaking his head.
".... No. Your time has passed. The dead should remain dead."
He stood slowly, looking out beyond the hill, a small and sad smile on his face.
"Keep the roost warm for me, hawks. I'll be coming back soon."
He turned away from the field of graves and broken blades, heading back to his car. After all, he still had one last job to do. A debt to a friend...
[/spoiler]
[#spoiler=Caitlin]
”I always thought... You were kinda cool. About that. With really believing in what you were looking for...""The plan was to just disappear. You wouldn't even know it was me. But you ruined it...""I thought we were past this...Is that really what you think of me?"Caitlin shot up in her bed, sweat beading on her forehead. She glanced at the clock on her desk, then outside. Nothing was waiting out there for her in the pitch black night sky, as usual. She grabbed her journal and began to scribble down some of her scattered thoughts.
”I heard you again. Every night, for the past six months, you’ve been in my head. I wish you’d just leave me alone already. When I’m not being haunted by the memory of you, it’s my sister. The two of you are conspiring against me. Why can’t I just forget you? Why am I letting what you did ruin my life? I hope your life in that mirror is a living hell.”She threw her journal and pen on the floor before sitting down at her desk, wondering how much more she would be able to endure. Everything about that stupid game had carved out special places in her brain, leaving her with a condition that no amount of therapy or pills could fix. Not that the doctors or her parents understood, anyway. Everyone had given up on Caitlin long ago, from the moment she began pursuing her sister, Ellie.
A framed photo of Ellie stared at Caitlin next to her computer’s monitor. The monitor itself displayed one of the forums she and Faye used to argue with each other on, with the visible thread being about one of Faye’s then-recent investigations. It was one of their last arguments from before she went off to St. Hope’s. The light from the screen burned Caitlin’s eyes a bit.
“I don’t want to let go of you two…” she mumbled to herself.
“But I can’t keep hurting like this.”She moved her mouse cursor over to “Account Settings,” with her chair creaking slightly as she leaned forward. The cursor hovered over “DELETE ACCOUNT.” Taking a deep breath, she clicked it, then confirmed her decision in a pop-up window. That was only one forum, but it was unlikely she would have gone back to sleep, so she spent the rest of the night deactivating accounts, deleting private messages with Faye, and erasing videos about her search for her sister. By the time the sun had risen, there was no visible trace of Caitlin Mac Cárthaigh’s hunt for little green men online.
Once more, she looked at the photo of her sister. She and Caitlin both shared the same hair color and texture, but her sister was always more of a girly girl than she was and preferred dresses and bright, poppy colors. Thinking back to the night Ellie was taken, Caitlin accepted the fact that, whether it was a human or alien that had taken her, Ellie was likely never coming back. She was never coming back, ever. Caitlin teared up while affirming such a thing to herself, as it spat in the face of the past eleven years of her life, but continuing to live in the past, chasing something that isn’t there, would only send Caitlin on a spiral that would surely end in her own self-destruction.
It was time for Caitlin to look toward the future and live for herself. Maybe, somewhere out there, was her purpose. She just needed to find it. Getting an idea, she reached for her phone and texted Mikoto and Yves, the two people who had been providing her the most support in the aftermath of the Contract Game. Yves and her had bonded over their mixed feelings regarding Faye, and Mikoto was one of the few things keeping Caitlin from completely giving up on herself. The three shared many late-night chats and had toyed around with the idea of going on some grand adventure together, though Caitlin was never sure if any of them were actually serious about it. But, things change.
Maybe it was time to start over.
[/spoiler]
[#spoiler=Mikoto]
“We’ll meet again, friends. Goodbye for now!”
Mikoto waved to their friends, after packing their things from their bedroom at the school. Somehow, they managed to fit each of their belongings inside a comically large backpack. Big enough to fit an entire person in, even. Yet still, Mikoto left a handful of things they didn’t need anymore behind, but brought a handful of books with them, perhaps as a reminder to study, like what some of their teachers might have wished for. They hoped to make them all proud, after all.
To their side, emulating their summoner, Leafcelot carried a small sack tied to a stick over their shoulder. Inside were various little candies for them to snack on.
Instead of taking a public transportation, or any sort of ride, Mikoto walked off on their own into the horizon, leaving behind anyone who was still at St Hope’s. They managed to get a few contacts with friends, but whoever wasn’t interested they got a wide smile and a friendly goodbye. It was time to set off on a new journey.
~~~~~~~
The crackling of a campfire disturbs the eerie silence. Mikoto and their familiar sit around the flame, their faces warmed by the heat and light of the fire.
They haven’t slept in a bed in a week. The cellphone they picked up to keep in touch with friends ran out of battery four days ago. Everyone who knew Mikoto knew this was just how things were, though. How did they even continue to pay for something like that? And how was everyone doing, anyways? All of the victims in that game, the lost souls held hostage by demons…
However, they were unable to linger on things for long. Leafcelot snuck up next to their summoner and poked them, demanding their attention.
“What is it, friend?” Mikoto snaps to attention. Their leafy friend points up into the still, starry night sky. Just then, a comet flies across, leaving behind a wonderful trail of light.
As is tradition for young children, Mikoto shuts their eyes and silently makes a wish.
I believe we will meet again.Mikoto stands up and dusts themselves off. Across months of travel, their old coat has only gotten worse for wear. But they cling onto it like how a child clings onto their old, worn teddy bear. It has too many memories to simply dispose of it.
And after all, they’re friends with a lovely seamstress who can fix it one day. Hopefully they’ll run into each other again on their journey. Anything’s possible, right?
With a light breath they stepped inside their pitched tent, and drifted off to sleep.
~~~~~~~
Drops of water echo through the damp, dark hallway. At one end, Mikoto stands still, seemingly in a daze. On the other, far far in the distance, is a faint light.
Opening their eyes slowly, Mikoto spends a moment adjusting to the darkness they’re in. They quickly snap to attention, and manage to get a grasp of their surroundings.
They’re alone. They’re cold. It’s dark. They’re alone…
Slowly, they begin to walk down the hall. Towards the light at the end of the tunnel. Each step is met with either the stiff sound of cold rock beneath their feet, or the uncomfortable sound of a wet, muddy puddle.
With every step closer to the light, Mikoto tries hard to avert their gaze from what they happen to notice beside them.
Every glance away from the path ahead, they’re met with something different. First it’s the limp, cold body of their homeroom teacher, just out of sight in their peripheral vision on their left. Not long after, on their right, accompanied with the familiar laugh of their assistant art teacher was their mangled corpse.
Beads of sweat began to collect on Mikoto’s forehead. Each step was accompanied with a slight tremble. Their hands were shaking at their sides. But they pressed onward.
Next, side by side, was the horrified and pained expression of a poor, poor assistant. And the familiar golden locks of another parted friend, though they could see no body.
With heavier, ragged breaths, Mikoto picked up the pace. Walking quickly, each footstep echoing down the hallway. They were approaching the exit, they could see the light at the end of the tunnel.
In their rushed state, however, they fumbled over themselves and fell into a rather large puddle. Lifting themselves up off the ground, they came face to face with their dimly lit reflection.
But a moment after, the face in the water morphed from a familiar one, to one of their music teacher, bloated and frothing at the mouth, with no light behind their eyes.
Gasping for air, Mikoto pushes themselves up and begins to run. Run run run.
They sprint into the light at the end of the tunnel, and then fall to their knees, breathing heavily.
“Finally…” They mutter out, between breaths. Knee deep in sand, they manage to gather themselves for a moment. Slowly, however, a crimson red liquid flows in front of them, quickly surrounding them and soaking the sand. Slowly, Mikoto lifts up their head…
And right before them, time stops. Just as before, Faye’s body was limp, pierced through the giant hand of a clock tower. Her eyes are shut. And on her face is the most serene, peaceful smile Mikoto has ever seen.
And when we do… I hope you’ll be smiling.They scream out loud, their cries of pain echoing through their ears and the inside of their head.
~~~~~~~
In a cold sweat, Mikoto jolts up in their sleeping bag. This wasn’t the first nightmare they had, and it certainly wouldn’t be the last.
They shudder. It’s cold. It’s still dark outside, of course. They bring themselves to their feet and poke their head outside their tent.
The blizzard has just begun. Pitched up halfway atop a mountain trail, Mikoto set up their tent for the night. Everything is as it should be, and nothing is all that unusual, besides the storm.
Mikoto lets out a sigh of relief. This journey isn’t over yet.
~~~~~~~
Back at home, there was a goddess we all worshiped. Someone that brought joy to all of our lives, even if none else knew about her.
Bundled up tightly in proper attire, Mikoto firmly walked through a thick blizzard and heavy snow. Beside them was their familiar, in a matching thick winter jacket.
Some would say that she could grant anyone’s wish. But only for those who were worthy. Those who proved themselves.Shielding their eyes from the snowfall, Mikoto clenched their teeth and continued to press on against the harsh winds. The path they were meant to follow has long been buried beneath sheets of ice and heavy snowfall.
The legends say that she met her end atop the snowy cliff. And that those who braved the harsh conditions of the mountain would earn her respect and grace.The winds only grew more intense. Clinging for their life, Leafcelot grabbed onto their summoner’s coat, to prevent being blown away by the wind. A few moments later, Mikoto would grab hold of them instead and hug them close.
“We’re almost there…”
Yet not all legends are true. Or as true as everyone thinks. Sometimes, things get lost to time.The two press onwards for what feels like hours, and yet… eventually… the winds start to clear. The snowfall slows and slows until it stops altogether.
Slowly moving their arm away, no longer needing to shield their face, Mikoto can see their destination is within reach. Not far from where they’re standing is a sharp, steep cliff, lit gently underneath a starry night sky.
But that’s okay. Not all wishes need to come true. Not everything needs to have the happy ending you want it to have. Sometimes, it really is about the journey. The time everyone shared with each other.In a few steps, Mikoto places Leafcelot down by their feet.
“:]”
The storm has ended. The sky is still and silent. Mikoto’s heavily bundled form is lit up bright by the full moon above them.
They smile wide, as tears begin to roll down their face.
So, even if we parted ways then, and there’s no way we can continue our time together… I’m happy enough with the time we had. And that’s not something I’ll ever forget. I hope all of you won’t forget me, either.Mikoto stands in silence for a long while. Looking up and smiling at the rabbit on the moon.
But, after enough time has passed, they turn their back on the lovely sight.
When one journey ends, naturally another begins. I hope we can all walk the same path again, someday. And then, they disappear back into the snow. Even though they’ve witnessed the end of many stories, their own doesn’t end here.
And when we do… I hope you’ll be smiling.[/spoiler]
[#spoiler=Yves]
The warm, orange sunset bathed the sprawling suburban plains in the glow of its embers, a cool breeze rustling the trees scattered around every other lawn or so. The old man leaned back into the old hatchback’s headrest as its engine sputtered to a stop, shutting his eyes and letting a long exhale escape him.
He wasn’t as spry as he used to be, and now shipment days at the store left him aching for the rest of the week. Little bits of card stock are a lot heavier than you’d think, when they’re packaged in the thousands, and being short-staffed meant that he handled the handling of new stock mostly on his own.
Gabe’s Cards, Dice, & Games was a second home for him and his family, but nothing beat the feeling of actually being home. It wasn’t something he was going to take for granted. Not anymore.
Gabriel Clemont pushes himself out of the car and gingerly pats the door shut behind him, another sigh leaving his lips as he passes by his wife’s favorite lilies, lining the short walkway to the front door.
His worn-out tennis shoes barely touched the carpet before a soft voice rang out from the living room. Three simple words that these days stretched his lips into a bittersweet smile and brought tears to eyes.
“...welcome back, grandpa!”
As he stepped into the living room, two big, blue eyes peered at him, underneath a shock of auburn bangs, shimmering with unshed tears, as his granddaughter stood to greet him, slinking out of the recliner in the corner of the room. Her grandmother’s old chair.
Patty… had been admitted to the hospital a few days before Yves left for her fancy boarding school. Her health was fading fast, but she was determined to stick it out, to see her little girl graduate high school. She didn’t make it for more than a few weeks. When Gabriel attempted to call the school, before she passed, to get in touch with Yves, nothing. Then he saw the news, and the entire school building disappeared into thin air. Students and faculty missing. Yves was missing. It’s a miracle he didn’t have a heart attack then and there. He didn’t know what to tell Patty, but her addled mind accepted his vague reassurances that their daughter was on her way. Then her time came.
It was agony, those weeks, all alone, not knowing where on Earth his granddaughter was, barely avoiding running himself into the ground when he saw the alert on his outdated phone– St. Hope’s was back, and he was on the first flight over to go and make sure Yves was safe. That she was even alive.
She was back. And she was okay, for the most part. Some days were better than others, and despite the unimaginable situation she had been through, she seemed more confident than before she left.
There were more smiles, when she wasn’t holed up in her room, with the muffled sounds of her bawling seeping through the rest of the house.
There were stories, about the friends she had made, that she still kept in touch with, and the experiences she had been longing to have her whole life.
There were pauses, coming on suddenly, in the middle of those stories, where pain and guilt and grief scrunched up Yves’s face and stole her voice. He didn’t pry, and let her work through her emotions with a gentle hand on her shoulder.
They were both going through things, one day at a time, and supporting each other through it. She was home, and she was safe. That’s all that mattered.
And now, here she was, greeting him with a wavering smile and… a picture frame, tucked against her chest-
“Is that what I think it is?”
The growing smile on her face, and her hurried nod, gave it away even before she turned the certificate around. She let out a laugh as he pulled her into a big hug.
She had worked hard, after coming back home, and while it couldn’t quite compare to the pomp and circumstance of a
actual graduation and diploma, it still meant the world to her. That she stuck with it, even after all she had been through.
“I’m so proud of you, my sweet girl.”
The corner of the frame dug into his back as Yves returned the hug, sniffling, a shiver running through her whole body.
Even though his wife was no longer with them, he would give their little ray of sunshine enough love and support for the both of them.
–x–
“All around the world, huh?”
The burgeoning days of summer continued to creep in, and the good days came more frequently. Now, the two of them were sitting together at the dinner table, maintaining their little family tradition, Yves recounting the grandiose and convoluted travel plans she had between forkfuls of eggplant. It was… infrequent, that she was so excited about anything. He hadn’t seen her so animated since before her first big tournament, in fact.
“Well, that’s the plan, anyways.
Traveling, wherever the mood takes us. Exploring nature, new places. All that kind of stuff…”
She was never, ever, a very outdoors-y kid, but the genuine enthusiasm in her voice, in her subtle movements, the way she stared expectantly at him for approval, made Gabe shake his head and match the goofy smile on his granddaughter’s face.
“So you’re really serious about this big trip of yours, huh?” It was a bit of a pointless question, really. She was obviously excited, and he’d been hearing her chatting to her school friends about this whole endeavor all night, the past few weeks, and overheard a few tidbits on the days off he started to give himself, so they could at least be in the house together more, too. Yves had even sold a bulk of her frankly massive card collection to make some ‘rainy day money’. “Now, I’m not saying I don’t approve… I just want to know, you’re sure you want to do this, right?”
The nervousness that he was all-too-used to seeing on her face settled in. But, then, just when he was about to apologize for making her feel unsure of herself, a determined glint flashed in his granddaughter’s eyes that he had never seen before, over the past 18 years.
“I’m sure. I- I know that it’s not what you’d probably like, me taking all my, um, college money, for this, but it’s–”
“What you really want to do.”
Yves nodded, eyes wide-open in surprise, and Gabe couldn’t help but chuckle. It’d be a lie to say he wasn’t… very apprehensive about the situation. Yves didn’t really have a whole lot of life experience, before getting pulled into the Game, or whatever else she called the horrifying missing persons episode she went through. And he wasn’t keen on letting her go out on her own, after just getting her back. But, more than anything, he couldn’t bring himself to put out the newfound spark that she had suddenly found.
“I have my reservations about the whole thing, but I'm not going to say that you can’t. You’re a big girl, now, Yves, and if you want to broaden your horizons like this, I’m not gonna hold you back. I just hope you’ll keep in touch with your dear old-”
The sappy seal of approval was interrupted by Yves all but tackling her grandfather with a hug, shaking with excitement. He patted her on the back, smiling softly as she pulled back, the fire burning even brighter in her eyes.
“Thank you, grandpa. I’m gonna do it… this bear’s gonna go out and see the world.”
[/spoiler]
[#spoiler=Caitlin, Mikoto and Yves]
One Year Later…One sunny day, a beat-up rustbucket of an RV cruised down a highway, weaving in and out of traffic as its driver pleased. Its occupants watched as a gentle breeze carried seagulls past them, the shimmering water slowly fading from their peripherals.
“Feckin’ American drivers,” the driver muttered after taking a sip from a light blue can and crushing it in her hand. “This energy drink isn’t doin’ shite.”
“A tired soul leads to a tired life.” Mikoto eyes Caitlin’s drink carefully, but doesn’t comment on it. “Perhaps you should give yours a rest?”
“Yeah…” Yves leaned over from the passenger seat, gently placing her hand on the other girl’s shoulder, “Please, don’t overwork yourself, Caitlin.”
Pulling off the road and into an empty rest stop parking lot, Caitlin breathed a sigh of relief. Her hair was a little longer, past her shoulders, but she still had her usual shit-kicking attitude. “Sorry, guys. I think I’m still reelin’ from the beach. Sun’s hotter here, it feels like.”
“Maybe we should take a break, then.” Yves states in the most assertive tone she can manage. It’s not much. “Check-in for the tournament isn’t until the end of the week, anyways, and we’re not that far from the city now. We can just chill out for a while, and relax…?”
“There’s a campground nearby, friends. The morning dew stuck to Leafcelot’s plumage whispered this to me as we awoke this morning.” Mikoto nods sagely. “It might be wise for us to spend our night there instead?”
~~~~
After driving a few minutes up the road, the group set up a small fire outside the RV and cooked their dinner while watching the sun disappear past the horizon. They cleaned up and retreated back inside once mosquitoes began to show up in droves. As they passed time before going to sleep, Yves studied her deck for the tournament, while Mikoto and Caitlin tried to play chess despite neither of them knowing the rules at all.
Life immediately after the Contract Game had proven itself to be challenging for the three of them, as was to be expected. But, through it all, the bonds that they formed allowed them to overcome any obstacles they faced. Soon, the bad dreams went away, and the memories felt distant. There was no need to dwell on the past when the future was still up for grabs.
Once it came time to sleep, they all crawled into the one bed that came standard with the vehicle, as they had been doing for months. Caitlin’s higher body temperature placed her in the middle, allowing the other two to siphon the body heat from her by cuddling up close on either side. Mikoto and Yves both rested their heads on her chest, while she wrapped her arms around them and held them close. Caitlin closed her eyes and smiled, feeling at peace.
Just another night on the road.
[/spoiler]
[#spoiler=Nico]
“...And how does that make you feel?” Asked the old man, in a dull, tired voice. Being a therapist, he’d probably asked that question thousands of times before. But now it was his turn to ask that question to the Holden family. Therapy had been Nico’s idea, but that didn’t make it any easier or less uncomfortable to reopen old wounds, or fresh, newer ones. Thanks to Felix’s encouragement, he finally built up the nerve to discuss the idea with his family, and to his surprise, they agreed to it.
There was an awkward silence before someone spoke up. “Well...” Nico’s father began, before he was quickly cut off by a musical jingle from Nico’s cell phone, playing a few notes from his favorite pop song. Four heads turned to face him almost in unison.
“S-Sorry! I thought I had it muted.” Nico laughed sheepishly. He dug his phone out of his pocket and as he went to silence the device he caught a glimpse of the message he had received and frowned.
1 New Message from Lee
“We need to talk, man.”
He quickly shoved the phone back in his pocket. That’d be a problem to deal with later.
---
The rest of the session went by uneventfully, and the car ride back home was quiet and uncomfortable. Not even five seconds after pulling up, Nico hopped out of the car and ran. A voice called out to stop him. Was it his mother? Or father? It didn’t matter. He wasn’t stopping, and no one was going to give chase to him. He ran as fast as he could past his house and into the woods behind them.
Eventually Nico arrived at his destination. A hill in the woods where he and Lee played together as children. Alive with beautiful flowers in the spring and summer, it sat cold and lifeless in the cold, late November air. That didn’t matter to Nico though. He laid down in the dead grass and stared up at the sky, and let his mind wander, thinking about the text message from earlier.
Once he considered him his best friend, but in recent years things had been awkward between the two. That didn’t stop Nico from telling Lee about his murder mystery adventures in Hell, but once that was done being discussed their conversations went back to how they were before. He sighs. “I really wish Xhuli was here to help me out with this...” He wanted to try and patch things up with Lee, but even after everything he went through he wasn’t ready to take the first step. Maybe someday he’d build up the courage, but today wasn’t that day.
As time went on, Nico could feel his eyes growing heavier as he was laying down, and he was struggling to fight off the need for sleep. He could feel his phone vibrate in his pocket with a new notification, but that was also a problem for later as he closed his eyelids and drifted off into the world of dreams.
---
“Hey dumbass, wake up.” Nico felt something nudge him in his sleep, but it wasn’t enough to rouse him. “You’re gonna catch a cold out here.” Another nudge, this one harder than the last. Hard enough to jolt him awake. He opened his eyes at last, and the first thing he noticed was that it was now dark. With how early the sky gets dark in the winter, he couldn’t tell if it was 4 PM or AM. He then looked up at his assailant. “W-What the hell...?” Nico rubbed his eyes, unsure if this was still a dream or not.
“It’s really me, you dumbass.” The mystery person smiled. He was tall, handsome and had his long blond hair pulled back in a ponytail. Nico’s best friend, Leon Hawthorne, stood before him in the flesh. He was only about a year and a half older than Nico, but he towered over the shorter boy, and most adults, with his height. For his own sanity, he stopped asking Leon’s height once he hit 6 feet tall, but even after that he still kept growing, much to Nico’s jealousy.
“L-Lee?! What are you doing here?” Nico asked, dumbfounded. He hadn’t seen him in person since his family moved to California a few years ago.
“Come on Coco, you kept ignoring my messages.” Leon teased. “I was visiting family in town and I figured if you weren’t going to talk to me, I was going to talk to you. I stopped by your house first and your family said you weren’t there, so I figured I’d find you here. Looks like I was right.”
Nico’s face turned bright red in embarrassment. “Y-You know I don’t like that nickname!” He stuttered. “It was one thing to call me that when we were kids, but I’m gonna be 18 soon!”
“Did you forget your own birthday, Coco?” Leon teased again. “It isn’t going to be July anytime soon, you moron. Besides as your best friend, I reserve the right to embarrass you whenever I want.”
“I...” Nico wanted to protest, but he stopped himself. “W-Wait, you still consider me your best friend...? Even after... You know....?”
Leon sighs. “That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. He lies down in the grass next to Nico and stares up at the sky, just as the two had done hundreds of times before as children. “I know I should’ve said this a lot sooner, but just because I didn’t feel the same way about you doesn’t mean I hated you or anything. I know it might’ve felt like that though, and I’m sorry. I could never hate you, Coco. I was just a dumb teenager back then, I didn’t know what to say or how to handle that situation. I’m really sorry and I’ve regretted it every day since it happened. I wish I spoke up about it years ago, but...” He stops for a moment. Leon never was the best at expressing himself. “...Once I saw that you were missing I hated myself for not trying to fix things with you sooner. I knew I’d never be able to forgive myself if you went and died before I got to say this, so... I... Um...Y’know what I’m trying to say, right? Say something, please!”
Nico was once again dumbfounded. A lump formed in his throat as he tried to fight back tears. “L-Lee...” He managed to say after a minute or two. “Please don’t apologize... You have nothing to be sorry for. I knew telling you how I felt was stupid and that it could jeopardize our friendship and I still went and did it anyways! You’re not the dumb one, I am!” He lost the battle against his emotions as the tears quickly welled up in his eyes and spilled onto his cheeks. “I-I’m sorry... I’m so sorry!”
“Heh, you always were a crybaby...” Leon chuckled, as he quietly wiped a stray tear from his own eye. “Well, if we both keep apologizing to each other this isn’t going to go anywhere. So how about we admit we both fucked up and let bygones be bygones, okay? That sound good to you?”
“We both fucked up pretty bad, didn’t we?” Nico laughed as a great weight felt like it was lifted off his shoulders.
“Holy shit, I don’t think I’ve ever heard you swear before!” Leon laughed as well. “Going to Hell really changed you, huh? So... If we’re cool again are you up to talk about it? I know you like to hide your doubts and fears and stuff so no one has to worry about you, but I know you too well for you to pull that shit, Nico. You can be honest with me. Just tell me as much as you’re comfortable with. Or tell me to fuck off. It’s your call.”
Nico sighs as he considers Leon’s offer. It was still a sore subject for the boy, but maybe talking to Leon could help ease some of the pain. “So, what do you want to know?” He speaks up after a moment.
“What was it like? The people, the experience, everything! You didn’t go too much into detail when you first told me about it. I’m guessing you just told me the same shit you told all the cops and investigators and the like, right? Well I want the truth from Nico Holden himself!” Leon exclaimed, his curiosity getting the best of him. “Uh, assuming you’re game to talk about it that is.”
“The experience, huh? I don’t know what to tell you there besides that I was terrified every day that I was going to die.” Nico replies. “That was a pretty big part of it, even if I tried my best to hide it from the others. If I wasn’t worried about myself dying I was worried about the others! Going to bed and wondering if the people I was talking to the day before would still be alive when I woke up... It takes a lot out of a person. I feel like I lost a few years of my life just from stressing out about that.”
“The people were pretty great, for the most part.” He continued. “I managed to make a lot of friends, and uh... I-I even got a boyfriend.” Nico smiled slightly, a faint blush appearing on his cheeks. “Besides the mastermind and maybe one other person, I don’t think anyone there was necessarily evil or anything. Just normal people pushed beyond their breaking point in a crappy situation.”
Leon sat up at the mention of Nico’s boyfriend, but waited until he finished speaking to address it. “Now hang on a minute, Coco! This is the first I’m hearing of a boyfriend. You can’t just drop that on me so casually! What’s his name? What’s he like?”
Nico’s blush deepened as he sat up as well and faced Leon. “I-I wasn’t trying to hide it or anything! I just never found a good time to bring it up.” He admits. “His name’s Felix.” He fishes his phone out of his pocket and shows his screensaver to Leon. It was a picture of the couple taken sometime before Nico returned home. “He’s a chef! He’s cute, and sweet and kind, and... I love him.” Nico was thankful it was dark out as his face somehow turned even redder. “I know you’d like him a lot if you met him. The only bad thing is that he lives in Canada...” He sighs. “But we text every day and we’re trying to meet up soon!”
Leon pretends to wipe a tear from his eye. “Love, huh? My little Coco’s all grown up now!” He teased. “And look at you! I never thought you’d be the taller one in a relationship!”
Nico sighs, used to jokes about his short stature. “My height’s one thing, but leave Felix out of it! Is that really all you have to say?”
“Come on Coco, it was just a joke! I’m sorry.” Leon apologized. “Couldn’t help myself. Seriously though, I’m happy for you. And I’m looking forward to meeting him someday. I’ve gotta make sure he’s good enough for you, or else!”
“What are you, my father?” Nico laughs as he rolls his eyes. “He’s a great guy, and I’m really happy being with him. You don’t need to intimidate him for my sake. He’d probably kick your butt if anything! Now... Where were we, before you so rudely interrupted me?”
“I don’t remember.” Leon admitted. “Oh! What’s the deal with the slime? I got some of the story from Jaz, but I figured you’d be able to fill me in better than he would. How’s he doing anyways?”
“Who? Jasper or Slick?” Nico chuckles. “It’s still early, but Jasper seems to be responding a lot better to group therapy compared to when he went on his own. He’s actually the reason we got to keep Slick. Mom wanted to get rid of him, since he kind of makes a mess when he’s indoors. But Jasper fought pretty hard to keep him and now he lives in that dog house outside. The two are practically best friends now. I guess he reminds him of the old days when we all used to play Minecraft together.”
“I’m glad to hear he seems to be doing better. The poor kid’s been through hell and back.” Leon replied, before realizing what he said. “That’s not the best choice of words, now that I think about it. But you know what I mean! You’ve both been through a lot. Hopefully the worst is behind you two. I’ll do my best to make sure that there’s only good times ahead for you guys! So if either of you needs anything or just wants to talk, I’m here for you. Got it?”
“Thanks, Lee.” Nico smiled. “It really means a lot. The same goes for you too, okay? I’ve missed being a part of your life. I don’t want to miss out on anything else! We’ll both be there for each other!”
“Sounds good!” Leon smiles back and stands up. He brushes off his pants and then extends a hand out to Nico, who accepts it and pulls himself up. “I missed you, Coco.” He quickly pulls his best friend into a hug.
“I missed you too, Lee.” Nico returns the hug and the two embrace for a moment.
“That seems like a good place to stop for today.” Leon says, as he takes a step back from Nico. “We’ll continue this some other time, okay? It’s getting late and your family’s probably worried about you. Now, with that being said... I bet you can’t beat me back to your place!”
“Oh, you’re so on!”
...
The road ahead would most likely still be rocky, but with Leon’s help things were looking up for Nico. Maybe things wouldn’t be so bad after all.
---
NICO END
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