Chapter Text
It was Monday. Rin and Lizzy were both ready to get back to work.
Rin hummed as he flipped the pancakes and hurried to go add the next ingredient to the bubbling pot of stew he'd let sit for a few minutes.
The cooks were used to watching Rin take on more than one order at a time. It was a special talent of his.
Lizzy watched Rin in a new light. She used to see a bright kid with a talent of cooking.
Now, she saw a wise adult, doing something that he enjoyed, something that took him away to a different world, a world filled with joy and no worries, no war.
Cooking was something that allowed Rin to feel normal, to feel safe and happy. Lizzy saw that now, and her heart reached out to him.
She swallowed as she saw him smile at one of the newer cooks, laughing when the cook raised a brow as he saw Rin dance around goofily.
That smile was one of joy, but it was guarded, giving nothing away that would lead to betrayal.
Lizzy watched the boy serve their customers, a content look on his face. It seemed to be the only thing that was exposed. He felt content, okay then. He didn't feel so worried. He was okay, for now.
Lizzy made sure to tell herself that the words 'for now' meant exactly what they were said for.
For now wasn't forever.
As Rin served tables, he could still remember his dream, his memory. That memory brought even more flashbacks.
As he set the drinks on the table, the woman sitting there spoke up, her voice curious, but kind. "Aren't you a bit young to be working here?"
Rin froze, eyes flashing.
Rin raced through the trees, zig zagging his way through the obstacles. He skidded to a stop at the edge of the woods, a road in sight with a broke-down car on it.
A mother and her child were there, as the mother looked through the hood for the problem, and the little girl patiently rocked back and forth on her heels. She couldn't have been older than seven.
The mother lifted her head at the rustling of leaves and turned her head to face Rin. "Who are you? Are you lost?"
The little girl looked at him, too. "Who's he, mommy?"
Rin stared at them, wide eyed. "No..."
"Are you okay?" The mother walked toward him and put a hand on his shoulder. "Are you hurt? Lost?"
Rin was about to warn them, but Satan's voice drifted toward them. "Putting innocent people in danger, now?"
The mother and Rin looked back to see Satan, grinning insanely, with the little girl's throat in his hand.
"Kaui!" The mother cried, fear circling in her orbs as she stared at the demon threatening her daughter.
Satan laughed. The girl struggled. "Let me go, you stupid meanie!"
Satan grinned. "Aren't you a bit young to be ordering me?" His fingers twitched and blood exploded everywhere, Kaui's head rolling off her shoulders.
"No!" The mother screamed in horror and despair.
Satan wasted no time in doing the same to the mother.
Blood and guts covered the road and the broken-down car, detached heads with bloody, severed bodies lie lifeless on the black pavement.
Rin stared in horror. "Bastard..." Rin started to scream. "Leave everyone out of this!"
Satan laughed and repeated his previous words.
"Aren't you a bit young to be ordering me?"
Rin was back to reality as the trays of food were dropped, and he stumbled.
He could hear people yelling as his hearing got fuzzy.
"Rin! Rin, are you okay?!" It sounded like Lizzy. Was she underwater or something?
"Rin?!"
Black spotted his vision as quiet wisps of words escaped his lips.
"It'll be alright, Kaui. You and your mother will be safe now. I'm sorry I was so weak."
His head hit the floor and black consumed his vision.
Beeping noises sounded in his ears.
Rin's eyes squinted, opening slightly.
Voices drifted toward him. They were outside of the room, but their voices were clear anyway.
"Ma'am, did you realize that the boy had PTSD?" An unfamiliar voice asked.
Rin knew he was in a hospital. It was obvious, considering the blinding white and beeping heart monitor.
"No." The voice that was Lizzy's shook with worry and horror. "How could I? He's a child. A teenager, but a child nonetheless. How could someone so young have PTSD?"
"I'm not sure. I'd have to ask him myself. There are many factors in which can cause PTSD," the unfamiliar voice said. It was probably a doctor, maybe a nurse.
Rin opened his eyes wider just as both walked in. He sat up. "Lizzy? What's going on?"
'Nice going, moron. I passed out. Why else would I be here?' Rin scoffed internally.
"Rin, you passed out during work." Lizzy frowned.
Rin knew this, but her tone scared him. "Wait, does this mean I'm fired!?"
"No!" Lizzy exclaimed hurriedly. "Oh god, no! Calm down, Rin! You'll raise your heart beat too much. Your pulse needs to stay as calm as possible."
Rin took a deep breath and nodded, his thumping heart quieting. "Sorry, I just...I don't want to lose the one thing that's made me feel safe for once."
The doctor's expression creased with worry, and Lizzy flinched, expression softening.
"Kid," the doctor began, but Rin cut him off.
"I'm not a kid," Rin spat, "It's Rin."
"Rin," the doctor corrected himself. "did you know that you suffer from PTSD?"
Rin scoffed. "No duh! Of course I know! How could I not?! When my brother found out, he gave me a whole tutorial about it. How to deal with it, what to do if a flashback or panic attack occurs, what medication to take, the complex definition of it, and the list goes on."
Rin glared. "So yes, Mr. Doctor, I do know I have PTSD, and I do understand its severity."
The doctor swallowed slowly and sighed. "Okay then. Since you seem to be fine, and it was only a panic attack, you're free to leave today. Is there any way we can contact your parents?"
Rin flinched, and Lizzy grimaced. "I'm his guardian, or foster mother, if you would prefer. I'll sign."
The doctor raised an eyebrow, but dismissed his curiosity and nodded.
The two left the room, and Rin fell back onto the bed. "What am I going to do now?"
"You mentioned medication," Lizzy said, "You don't take it, do you?"
"I don't have any." Rin shrugged. "Besides, it doesn't do anything for me. It's like swallowing plastic. It doesn't do much but make my stomach ache. My biology doesn't allow any medicine to work effectively."
"Oh." Her response was quiet and short. "Rin-"
"Please." His voice shook. Lizzy stopped at the stoplight and turned around to face him, her eyes widening.
Rin stared at her, eyes full of fear, worry, guilt, and pain. "Don't ask."
Lizzy bit her lip, but didn't know how Rin knew that she was going to ask about his PTSD.
She looked at him as tears gently slid down his pale cheeks. It was already beginning to tick nine, and the red glow from the stoplight illuminated his face in the dark, tear stained and lip quivering.
Lizzy's eyes slowly slid shut, her breath slowly seeping from between her lips. "Okay, Rin. It's alright."
Her eyes opened, she gave a slight nod to Rin and turned back to face the road.
'I should have been there for you, kid. What happened to you? Why are you so...'
'Broken?'