[Mushverse: For everyone in the hospital visiting Joe]

[halfboiledjoker]

Half the wall is missing. The window is shattered, lying in shards and pieces on the floor. It seems like the fancy hospital equipment all survived, judging by the humming and beeping I can peripherally hear as I stare out of the building.

Less than twenty-four hours ago I found Joe, bruised and barely breathing, discarded on the side of the road like garbage. Before I'd even gotten to the hospital I'd decided I'd make sure he was safe, and healthy, and be someone he could depend on. Then I met his brother, found out how important Joe really is to this world of ours. And I came in here, hoping to help him in any way I could.

And then he hopped on the back of a shapeshifting monster from another world, the two of them running away together.

At some point I must have fallen to my knees. I'm still trying to find words, figure out what to do next, but all I can think of is that somebody must have heard that wall break. And nobody is going to believe what I have to tell them.

Comments

[halfboiledjoker]

He asks me what I need, and I bite back a bitter laugh. What I need is to rewind time, to not have listened to Joe or Basco, to have transformed and kicked the bastard out of the room.

Instead I let my head hang.

"No, I don't think so," I answer, closing my eyes and trying to remember them leaving. It was just minutes ago and it should all be fresh and easy to remember, but all I can really recall is the sound of a breaking wall, the rush of air as they jumped. A kid and a monster, out for a joyride.

[yellowlion]

I nod, then take another look at him, gripping him gently by the shoulders. "Shotarou. Don't beat yourself up over this. Come with me if you're up for it, otherwise stay here, but kicking yourself because you think you're at fault can come later. You have any idea how valuable it is that you were here and you're able to tell me what happened?"

Obviously I wish Joe could be sitting in the damn bed right now, safe, recuperating. Being with Basco isn't high on my list of ten things I want my PTSD-y, injured son to be experiencing right now.

But our lives have never been safe, there could be some good out of this, and it's not this Shotarou's fault.

[halfboiledjoker]

His words hit me and I blink once, twice, then look up at him. "You're going after them," I say, almost deadpan. But I'm not sure who this guy is - although I'm sure I should know at this point - and he certainly knows me.

I shake my head. "If you're going, I'm going," I say as my head clears. Finding my resolve can do that. "We need to bring him back safe."

That's why I'm here in the first place, isn't it?

[yellowlion]

I nod. "Joe's my son. I trust him, I trust his abilities. But he's been hurt, and he's my son. I won't leave him without help."

...that's the spirit. Good for you, kid. "Thank you."

[halfboiledjoker]

Joe's his...

Of course. This is Joe's adopted dad, suddenly a lot more makes sense. Granted, it doesn't make sense why his father is not more upset with the fact that his son just burst out the side of a building with a spiny red monster, but we can just take things one step at a time. "You can thank me when he's home safe," I say as I climb to my feet.

We've wasted enough time because of my weakness. I straighten my hat on my head and give him a nod. "Let's go."