(no subject)

[pullsneedles]

Somehow Lucas manages to get a room for himself. It's not too elaborate, very much like the home he doesn't remember he had. He's curled up on the simple bed, hugging a blue pillow.

If he's going to feel alone, he might as well be alone.

Comments

[herr_bookman]

He won't be along for long. Soon there's a soft, persistent knock at his door. "Lucas?"

[pullsneedles]

"Autor?"

He doesn't get up to let him in just yet.

[herr_bookman]

Autor leans on the door, relieved. He'd checked in the infirmary to find his comatose patient lacking, and he's kicking himself for missing the moment he awoke due to being stuck at home.

"Yes," he says. "It's me. I'm glad you're awake. I'm sorry I missed it."

[pullsneedles]

Lucas climbs out of bed and softly pads over to the door. He gently turns the doorknob and pulls it open. His eyes are red from crying.

Without another word, he gives his friend a hug.

[herr_bookman]

Autor stoops down to embrace his friend, swallowing. "I'm sorry," he says again, and squeezes him tight.

[pullsneedles]

"Don't be sorry," Lucas murmurs. "'m glad you're here. I'm glad y'ain't scared a'me."

[herr_bookman]

"Scared of you?" Autor says, startled. "Why would I..."

He trails off, shaking his head as he remembers Rae's reaction. Autor places his hands on the other boy's shoulders and looks him directly in the eye. "I won't ever be scared of you. I promise."

[pullsneedles]

"You're not scared a'me or the Dragon?" he asks to make sure. "Miss Sunshine could barely look at me."

And there was a man who called me Satan, the Dragon adds. He wouldn't speak to Lucas after that.

[herr_bookman]

I probably should be? Autor thinks, and then hopes the Dragon doesn't hear him.

"I think some of that has to do with the fact that Sunshine can feel how powerful you are," he says, squeezing his shoulders again. "I can't, so it's easier for me to keep in mind how your will is his will."

Then he frowns. "Satan? What on earth? There's no cause for that."

[pullsneedles]

The man asked where I was after Lucas introduced us. When I answered, he told me to get out and called me Satan. I didn't bother to listen if he had anything else to say to me after that.

Lucas just leans in for another hug.

He's worried he won't be able to speak to people anymore because of me. Thank you for being here, Autor.

[herr_bookman]

Autor folds his arms around Lucas again. "Apollo was a patron here once," he says. "So was Orpheus. Milliways has catered to gods before, and I'm sure there were people who weren't afraid of them."

He ruffles the boy's hair, and then presses his head to his chest. "It's a big change, but people will get used to it. You'll get used to it."

[pullsneedles]

Lucas nods a little.

"I remember Mom," he says. "I couldn't remember anythin' besides Milliways when I woke up, but I remember her now. I remember her dying."

[herr_bookman]

Autor winces. "What a memory to come back to," he murmurs. "Do you remember anything else aside from that and Milliways?"

[a1enzo]

Enzo heads up to see Lucas after Autor gives him a status report.

"Lucas?" comes his voice through the door. The accompanying knocking is a bit unusual: first the thud of a boot kicking the door (but not hard), then a light tapping higher up. "Wait, Minus, should you... well, okay, I guess."

[pullsneedles]

Lucas had worn himself out before and fallen asleep for a bit. He lifts his head and regrets it immediately, his head aching. He sniffles as he tries to get out of the blanket and pillow.

He looks drained when he opens the door for Enzo.

[a1enzo]

Minus stops bopping itself against the door when it opens. Enzo's hands are quite full, hence the alternative means of knocking; he has a large plate of brownies, a smaller plate with a few digital brownies for himself, and a shake for each of them.

"Hey. Sorry, did I come at a... /dev/null, there isn't a good time right now. Here. I brought you these."

[pullsneedles]

He manages a wobbly smile.

"You're here now. That's better'n not at all."

Lucas wipes at his face, but he's run out of steam for crying at the moment. He steps inside his room, admitting Enzo and Minus. He sits down on the floor, the only furniture in his room being a bed and a dresser doubling as a nightstand. His blanket made its way down there courtesy of Autor.

"The whole time it was me an' Claus," he says. "Claus was th' other one pulling th' Needles."

He props his face in his hands.

[a1enzo]

Enzo nods solemnly; Autor and he kept each other updated throughout Lucas' convalescence. He puts down the larger plate and slides it toward Lucas.

Minus utters a descending chime; it may not understand any of this, but it knows unhappiness when it sees it.

[pullsneedles]

He sniffles a little, that being about all his body can manage.

"It hurts so much, but I don't got anything left t'cry."

[a1enzo]

"I know, man. You want some water?"

Fluids, remember.

[pullsneedles]

"I should have some," Lucas agrees.

His throat is starting to feel dry. If Enzo hadn't said anything, he'd probably start croaking.

"Could...could you please get it?" he asks, gesturing to the little bathroom.

[a1enzo]

"Of course." Enzo hurries sinkwards and returns with a glass.

[pullsneedles]

Lucas takes the water and carefully sips. Now that he's had some, his throat doesn't want to continue talking until it's quenched. So for a while, he quietly sits and drinks. He empties the glass before he says another word.

"Everyone's gone," he mumbles just loud enough to be heard. "Everyone an' everything. An' then people started gettin' scared a'me here."

[a1enzo]

"Scared of you, or scared of the Dragon?"

[pullsneedles]

"The Dragon."

But it's affecting Lucas. Miss Sunshine has trouble being around him because of me. And there was a man who called me Satan. After he did, he wouldn't speak to Lucas again.

Lucas hugs his knees to himself.

"I don't wanna be alone."