Chapter Text
He had felt the sharp pain that jolted through him from his chest being ripped open, the agony that soaked into his bone and desperation he felt as he laid his eyes on Rudo's horrified expression at the sight of him. He felt cold horror as his murderer moved towards the kid as his own fight died soon after
Everything after that was a complete blur, a void he couldn't escape, it was as if something was holding him in that darkness. Everything had hurt for a moment before all of it went numb, after that he could feel that cold sensation seeping into his bone to replace the sore aches that clings to him. That should've been the end of him
But then he felt something- no, he felt people pulling him up by his arms, dragging him somewhere. The air was cold as the people whispered above him, they moved him, then he felt weightless.
There was no longer a ground below him, all that was left was air.
‘Ah, they threw me in the pit.. ‘ he thought to himself as the last of his strength was used to crack open his eyes, his mind grows fuzzy as the wind hits his back and rushes through his hair ‘Rudo wouldn't like that..’
He thinks as something blinds him and engulfed him in a warm embrace, his last thoughts were about the kid and how lonely he'll be.
Which was why Regto had been surprised when he woke up, his surroundings were unfamiliar and frankly nauseating. His lungs stung and mouth dry, how was he alive? The old man coughed up drops of blood, the blood on his clothes having turned a dark brown. How long had he been unconscious for that the blood had time to oxidize? Regto slowly moves to stand, his injuries screaming at him as he moved
He needed to figure out where he was first, from the looks of it he was in one of those polluted zones Alto used to talk about, which would mean he'll need to find a quick way out and watch out for any sentient trash that might attack him.
The man looks out towards each direction, though none of them provide him a clue of a direction that's closest to a safe zone. Regto swallows down his growing pain and starts to move towards east, his movement slow and sluggish as he stumbled and dragged his feet, ‘this'll take a while' he thought as he continued to walk
As he continues to walk his feet become numb, though they still move he's not sure he can feel them under him. He wonders what happened to Rudo, he wouldn't have let the apostle simply throw him into the pit, he hopes his kid was okay, it was the only thing he can do in his current state.
But knowing those people they'd somehow find a way to framed his murder onto his kid, and didn't that make his stomach lurch? . The thought that his kid is dead and alone because everyone had assumed he was a ‘murderer’ like his father. He hated the thought and placed it aside, he needed to find a safe place first before doing anything, because surebrec be damned he died before finding out what happened to his kid.
Regto coughed again, this time it shook his whole body. His body doubled before his whole weight collapsed to the cold dirt, blood mixed with spit pooled near his head, his vision growing fuzzy and adrenaline betraying him. He needed to get up, he needed to find out what happened to his son. He won't die here without knowing if his son is safe. He won't, he refuses.
Regto pushed up with his arms as support, they shook beneath his weight as he sat up. Shoulders slumped and hand blistered from the harsh surface that mixed with dirt, he blinked as he tried to stand. His body wouldn't listen to him anymore, everything was sore and he's got blood all over himself, he couldn't die here, he couldn't.
He needed to see his son again, he needed to know his kid was safe, he still needed to see Rudo damnit! He tried to stand up one more time, all his strength stretched thin as he tried to stand and fail. His head falls to the solid ground, body aching and mind exhausted. His breath hitched, lungs wheezed and heart hammered
He couldn't die here, please.. He needs to see his son again… just once, he needs to see that boy's face, he just.. Needs his son… please.. He..needs to.. See rudo..
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Zanka hadn't really wanted to take this mission, he was exhausted still from the last one, but considering he and a few others were the only ones left at HQ, Semiu decided he was the best choice as Follo hadn't fully grasped being a giver yet and still needed training. Which was why Zanka was still needed for the mission
Follo was to observe him as he fought off trash beasts and took out the smaller guys, thankfully it wasn't that far out from HQ and should be a quick training mission!
What none of them had anticipated was the growing trash beast that had been so close to HQ. They shouldn't have been as big as they are, some of them would go here to take out anger and to even make sure no bigger trash beast grew. Yet somehow there was a big one towering over their car.
“Uh…that's quite the big guy” Follo swallowed, Gris pushed the brakes as they slowed, Zanka grabbed Lovely as he's practically jumping out of the car with Gris and Follo in tow. Lovely is engulfed with that familiar blue aura as its weaponized, “Follo, watch watch my back, Gris make sure the area is secured and there aren't any more beasts” Gris nods as he moves forward deeper into the polluted zone, Follo stands beside him as Alan weaponized
Zanka rushes forward, Lovely moving in sync with him to dance with the beast, each strike disabling the beast. Alan moves to deflect each strike the beast tries, each one adding to Follo's stress. The two move and dance with each other, small injuries and scratches caused by stumbles as Zanka lands the last blow together with Follo. Zanka pulls Follo by his collar ad he uses Lovely to put distance between them both and the beast
The thing explodes and Follo wheezes on the ground, Zanka pants with the only thing holding him up being Lovely “You good Follo? “ The black hair nods in turn, unable to speak as he tries to catch his breath, “I-I thought Semiu said- that this was just a routine check? “ Zanka swallowed, his hands sliding along Lovely as he lowered himself to the floor “It was. At least it was supposed to be, seems something changed.. “ Follo nods, lifting himself to a sitting position “Where's Gris?”
Follo squints at the horizon of the polluted zone and sees the taller figure of their third “there he is” his hand moving to point to the figure “We should- is that? Is Gris carrying someone? “ Follo nods “ Yeah, we should report this to Semiu… wait what? “ Zanka and Follo focused their eyes on Gris, he did look like he was carrying someone.. Or maybe it was another dead sphereite? Zanka couldn't really tell from this far away..
“Might be another corpse.. If not we better contact HQ just to be sure” Follo looks up, he's clearly thinking of something “Maybe there's someone from the sphere like Rudo “ Zanka gives him. Follo nods and turns back to the Gris's direction
As the man got closer it was clear Gris was carrying a person, Zanka opened the door to the back of the car, “Gris? “ Follo calls out, the man lays the motionless body in the back seat and shuts the door “Guy's definitely another sphereite, we should head back before another trash beast shows up” Follo and Zanka nods as the both pile into the front seats, Gris sighs at their antics and moves to the driver's side
“I'll call ahead, the guy doesn't look good at all.. “ Gris nods, his eyes flickering to their second row passenger. Zanka places his hand on his choker and began to speak as it connects to Semiu “Semiu, we need Tomme and Eishia on sight as we arrive, we've got a heavily injured guy in the back” Semiu is silent on the other end but the scribble and ruffles of paper stopped
“Describe the injuries. “ Zanka glanced to the second row, his mouth opening before they close, unsure of what to say, it's unclear where the actual injuries are considering blood covered every inch of the guy “I'm not sure, I can't assess with how much blood in on the guy, but most likely a broken rib of sorts, some internal bleeding, a possible concussion and bruising. “ He hears that familiar raffles of paper as he continued to speak “Okay, be quick, Gris speed up this guy might not make it if you drive slow and steady”
The supporter's hand gripped the wheel as Follo buckled himself in, Zanka looked over to his fellow giver, eyebrow raised in question as Gris slams on the break
Zanka shouts, as he's thrown into the back row besides the injured guy, his head spinning around frantically for anything to hold onto. He grabs the seatbelt and buckles himself in, hands rushing and breathing rapidly as Gris speeds up again and his back is thrown into the seat's cushion. If this was how Gris drove all the time, he might've preferred if Enjin drove instead!
Not long after another speed up, they swerved to the right, Zanka gritted his teeth, hands digging into the seat's cushion and Follo let out a cry as his side slammed into the car door. Follo rubs his side, face pinched slightly and his other hand held onto the seat. Zanka looks over to his side, the unconscious man still unmoving despite the rough way Gris drove.
His eyes do a once over of the guy, black hair, tall figure, quite thin, clothes red from blood and whatever liquid got on it, clear head injury and the tear across the chest, Zanka pities the man. Here was some injured Sphereite guy and what did the sphere do? Throw him away like trash, like how they threw away Rudo. Zanka sighs as the car comes to an abrupt stop and his face nearly hits the back rest of Follo’s seat
Gris opens his door and steps out before he swings the back door open, Gris grabs the guy gently and lifts him up before he runs towards the team outside with a stretcher. Gris hands the guy over to Tomme and Eishia as Eishia gets to work and Tomme assesses the guy’s injuries. Follo and Zanka comes up behind Gris, Zanka crosses his arms and watches and Follo fidgets with his sleeve
Electricity runs through Eishia and into the sphereite, the surroundings turning slightly lighter for a moment before Eishia lets go of the guy. Gris lets out a breath, Zanka relaxes his shoulder, Follo observes silently and Tomme continues to assess the guy, the group is silent as Tomme searches the guy over for any injuries or permanent damage that the guy could have. Tomme gives a thumbs up and everyone lets out a breath of relief “Now, Gris help me get this guy to infirmary while Zanka and Follo gets checked over by Tomme and Eishia” Zanka’s head turns up to see Semiu at the other end of the stretcher gesturing at Gris to follow her
Gris picks up the other end as the two walk inside the building “Any injuries you two?” Zanka turns back to his teammates and glances at Follo and nudges him, Follo’s head snapped in his direction and sighs “I just have a sore side, nothing too major I think? I’m pretty sure that the trash beast did less damage than Gris’s driving..”Tomme paused at the statement and Eishia tilted her head “But..Gris always drives safely..?” murmured Eishia, Zanka sighs and Follo deflates slightly “Zanka?” the boy hums at the call of his name “Oh, right. I don’t think so? Me and Follo only got a few scratches”
Tomme nods “We’ll heal you guys with a slower voltage than and let your body do the rest” Follo nods as Eishia starts to charge up her powers again, Eishia’s hand lays flat on their backs, electricity dancing on their skin and electricity runs through them, the warm feel offering a slight sense of comfort. Eishia pulls her hand away, Zanka opens his mouth just as their hair puffed up, Tomme holds back a laugh and Zanka stares blankly at the two and huffs a breath “I forgot your power does that..thanks Eishia, I’m feeling better already”
Follo nods beside him, a smile already spread across his face “Yeah! Thanks EIshia” the girl blushes slightly from the thanks “I-I'm just do-doing my job..!” she sputters, Tomme chuckles besides her and pats the girl’s head “You still deserve a thanks once in a while Eishia, let’s all head inside I’m sure you two are tired, especially you Follo” Tomme pulls the girl closer his her arm over Eishia’s shoulder. Zanka agrees and Follo only hangs his head in the creeping exhaustion of getting used to his jinki
“Hey Tomme, do you know when Rudo will be back?” the brown haired woman thinks for a moment and shakes her head “I’m not sure, last I heard he’s on a mission with Enjin, Riyo, Guita and Fu” Zanka raises his eyebrow at that, Fu is really devoted to following Enjin around huh? Zanka chuckles slightly at the image “Why?” Zanka blinks up at the woman as they enter HQ “I thought that maybe RUdo might know the guy..but thinking now, he probably won’t” Tomme nods and Follo stumbles to catch up behind them “Doesn’t hurt to ask, did you get the guy’s name?” Follo shakes his head “No, we were too busy fighting, Gris was the one to find him
Tomme lets out a small ‘ouh’ as they head to the hall lined rooms “I’ll retreat for the day, we shouldn’t have anything more to do. Get some rest and remember to eat dinner later” Tomme waves at them as she and EIshia walked away. Follo and Zanka shares a look and nods “I’ll go take a shower first,we can cuddle after” Follo whoops in victory and the two turns around and head towards the community showers instead
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His body ached,everything was still sore and yet most of the pain was gone. He feels the soft cushion below him and the folds of a thin blanket over him, where was he? Wasn’t he dying just seconds ago? The air also didn’t smell nauseating but instead antiseptic and medicinal, was he in an infirmary?
His eyes felt heavy as did his arms, his head still felt fuzzy but not as severe as it was previously, his eyes slowly opened to a dimly lit room in a still unfamiliar place. It looked like a hospital, his mouth was dry but breathing steady, the opening of the door catching his attention and a tall figure steps inside with a tray in hand, as their eyes met the taller man froze for a moment before he recovered “ah, I see you’re awake, how do you feel?” Regto eyes the man cautiously as he places the tray that contained water and food on his table side and sits down in the chair beside his bed
“Here, your throat is probably dry” the man hands Regto the glass of water, he takes it in his hand and sniffs it before taking small sips, his hands shaking slightly with each sip. The man watches him and as he places the glass on the bedside table “Feeling any better?” Regto nods his head his mouth opens but is only able to let out a harsh wheeze, the man frowns at that “There’s no need to speak yet, I’m Gris by the way” Regto nods and clears his throat “Regto” he says simply and Gris nods
“Nice to meet you Regto, you’re at cleaners HQ right now on the ground, you’re from the sphere correct?” Regto nods hesitantly and Gris looks relieved? “We found you inside a polluted zone during one of our missions, you were critically injured so you’ll be bed bound for a few days… Do you remember anything from before?” Regto freezes from the question, his last memories of the sphere flashing through his mind. Regto sits up while Gris tries to get him to lie back down “I..I need to …to find my son..” he pants
Gris’s eyes widened at his words, Regto pants and tries to stand up, Gris holds his arms and lowers him back onto the bed “We’ll find your son Regto, I’m sure he’s safe where he is right now..” Regto pulls at his arms before he collapses back on the bed “I assure you we’ll help you find him if he is down here” Regto laughs a bitter taste, Rudo would be dead if he was down here, he wouldn’t have survived the fall and he shouldn't have either
Yet by some miracle he was alive and breathing and Rudo is either miserable or dead. Regto shudders at the thought, he didn’t want him dead or miserable, he just wanted him alive and well damnit.
Gris places a hand on his shoulder “We’ll get a party together to search for him once more member’s return, I’ll leave you alone for now, will that be okay? Regto nods and Gris pats his shoulder and slides past him and closes the door. Regto stares at it for a moment and sighs, he really needs to know about his kid but he won’t be able to do much in his current state..he might as well rest first before doing anything as reckless as further injuring himself, Rudo would be livid with him if the kid knew he injured himself trying to find out what happened to him..he’ll just close his eyes for now..