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The cold lighting of Pillbox Medical did no favors to lighten the mood as visitation hours opened. Mr. Lang, Raymond, and Tony entered the small room, a rhythmic beeping echoing off the walls.
On the bed lay Yuno Sykk in a comatose state, his helmet removed. The nurse looked to his visitors and back to her patient before saying, "Let me know if you need anything."
Only Tony acknowledged her with a dim nod as she slipped out of the room.
They had been informed Yuno might not wake up from his coma and they should say their goodbyes today in case of the worst. The doctors inferred earlier that it may have been delayed damage from jumping off the roof to save Mr. Lang on his birthday.
Ray immediately rushed to Yuno's side while Tony stood back over his shoulder. Mr. Lang hung back near the entrance, his face guarded. Only those who knew him best would be able to detect the sadness swimming deep within his brown eyes.
"Yuno," Ray spoke earnestly, grasping his limp hand. "The boys are here. If you can hear me, I want you to know we fucking love you."
Tony nodded behind him, a hand on Ray's shoulder in support as Ray continued, "You'll be back, I know you will. Your time here in Los Santos is not finished. There's so much for you left to do, so much is changing in this city that I hope you'll see. One day I hope I can show you it."
"The Tuner Shop will be open soon," Tony added with a heavy sniff of copium. "If they have the LFA in stock, we'll buy it for you. If you ever wake up, I'll have it waiting for you in the Manor."
"You used to say there are two times someone is actually gone. One is when they leave, and two is when you stop thinking about them..." Ray whispered.
Tony coughed behind him, "Minus one."
"If you don't wake up, we'll never forget you, Yuno. We're the fucking cleanbois." Ray let out with a laugh, choking back tears. "I love you, baby." He tried to add more, but lost his voice as the tears he held back broke past the dam. He turned and faced the wall as Tony patted him on the back in comfort.
Then, Tony sank to his knees beside Yuno's bedside. His eyes lingered on the chart of Yuno's heartbeats, willing them to continue. "Hey buddy," he started. "You know, I wasn't too sure about you the first time Lang brought you on the heist. Little did I know you would be one of my boys..."
Tony paused, his eyes closing as he choked on emotion. "If you don't wake up... just know I love you," Tony spoke thickly, his hands grasping Yuno's arm. A tear wallowed in his eyes before dropping past his eyelashes and onto his cheek.
He rose to his feet, his arm circling around Ray in an embrace. Mr. Lang stood there, his eyes not moving from Yuno's unmasked figure. Yuno may have a new face, but Mr. Lang only saw the eyebrow-free face of his favorite bank busta laying there.
Ray and Tony left together, leaving Mr. Lang some privacy to say his farewell. It took him a moment longer to gather to courage to step forward.
Yuno's black motorcycle helmet reflected the white lighting hung from Mr. Lang's hands. He stepped forward and carefully put it on, knowing it was what Yuno would want. He settled beside him in the chair.
"After Donnie," Mr. Lang started, "I didn't want to let anyone back into my life because I was scared they would be ripped out of it again."
He laughed ironically before saying, "And then some fucker decides to be the worst worker I've ever hired. He's incredibly lazy, never shows up for work. And yet, something about this kid made me want to give him so many chances. It made me think to myself, so what if he only came for the free ramen? I'm fucking rich, it didn't matter."
His eyebrows raised as he continues. "Turns out, he's a fucking cheat code hacker and the kindest and most loyal person in all of Los Santos. Probably outside of it too. So 24 hours turned into a life type of deal..."
There was a pregnant pause as Mr. Lang leaned forward, the palm of his hand clasping around Yuno's shoulder. "When you're ready, I really hope you come back. This city needs you. I need you."
And then, collecting himself and holding back his tears, Mr. Lang rose from the chair. The nurse now stood at the entrance with another friend of Yuno's waiting to say farewell. Dundee.
Before leaving the room, Mr. Lang said to the nurse, "Try to keep the helmet on him. He'd want it that way."