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"..Try not to move so much, it'll hurt you more."
A pair of two situated in an alleyway, away from where anyone could find them. Rui leaned up his back up against a wall, and Nene laid in his lap, squirming every now and again from discomfort. There were the occasional noises that indicated the young girl was in pain, usually whenever she moved, and the sound of ragged breath, but otherwise it was completely silent.
While they were separated from their team, they never expected to get caught in the way of combat. To say they were badly injured was.. an understatement. They were probably 2 seconds away from death at this point, and the rest of their team was unable to find them. The only thing the other two, who were relatively fine, were able to figure out was that they were still alive, and that help would come find them.
A mixture of hope and despair filled them. They wanted to believe someone, or hell, anyone, would find them, but at the same time, they knew their fates already.
"...Hey, Rui?"
"Hm?"
"Do.. you think they'll be here soon?"
"Well, I.. lost signal a while ago. I'm not sure if I'll be able to tell if they're around."
"Fuck, hold o-" She went to go check her watch, wincing.
She didn't really get anywhere, though, as Rui adjusted her to be closer, chastising her for moving again.
The two laid there silently again, as the sounds from outside the alleyway filled the ambience. The sounds of fighting, people running by, not paying them mind. They tried not to focus on each other, as to not make each other upset. That didn't really work out, though.
Nene grabbed Rui's hand suddenly, turning her head away from him.
"Pl.. please don't go. Don't leave me here."
"I won't. I promise." Despite her not being able to see him, he tried to give her a reassuring smile.
"...Don't... go. please. I don't want to be alone.. not like this."
Her pleas for him to stay soon turned to incoherent sobbing. His smile faded, and he tried to soothe her.
"Hey, hey.. it'll be okay. I'll.. be here, okay? I won't leave you. I'll make sure we get help."
He went against his own advice, readjusting himself, sharp shoots of pain suddenly reminding him why he was sitting the way he was.
She, too, shifted, so she was right up against him. She wasn't sure why, but she wanted to be close to him. He helped her, making sure she was comfortable as she was.
After a bit, Nene had finally calmed down. She tried to stay calm while it lasted, but she thought she'd manage to breakdown again before they were found. She tried to readjust, so she looked up at the sky between the buildings.
The stars shone in a way she thought she had never seen before.
It felt like hours had passed. While Rui's signal was lost, he was still able to check the time.
It hadn't been that long since they had arrived there. Fuck.
He still tried to hold onto the hope that anyone could find them, but it slowly sank in that this may as well be the end for them both.
He got interrupted by something clutching at his shirt- Nene trying to get his attention.
"Hey, if... we don't make it out.. I just wanted to say.. I love you." She looked up at him.
"..I love you too."
"Thank you. For being here."
"Of course. I wouldn't leave you behind."
Rui looked back down at the small girl on his lap, noticing how shallow her breathing had become. Maybe he was imagining it, but...
"I'm.. tired." She looked away from him again. "..I feel so tired."
He placed a hand on her head, looking away from her as well.
"If.. you want to sleep, you can. okay? I'll wake you up when.. they get here."
He glanced over, and she was looking at him again. She never said anything at that moment, but he knew if she managed to get the words out, she would've said "thank you".
As she closed her eyes and got readjusted one last time, he leaned his head back on the wall, looking up towards the sky. He could only manage to let out a sigh.
It really did take all of his power to not breakdown like Nene had earlier.
At this moment, he realized that fate had sealed itself.
But... at least it sealed itself with these two together.
As the grip on his hand loosened, he, too, loosened his grip.
There was no point in continuing on after this point. he, too, was tired. With one last glance at the girl, who appeared still, he closed his eyes, letting everything sink in.
It was too late for them.
And he, too, fell asleep.