Freak ~Juuzou x Reader AU~

Chapter 13: Low

July is fading away, making space for August.

Summer hangs in the air, humidity riding in on the breeze. Two weeks. It's been two weeks since I was discharged from the hospital. And it's been two weeks since Juuzou stopped by my apartment to ask his questions.

I have heard nothing new since then. Nothing from him. Nothing from Abara. Nothing from anyone. It's just been radio silence.

I know they're busy. I know they are. What they're doing...it's not easy. They're trying to solve a case. That's not something that can be done in a few days. But fuck...I was hoping I'd hear something by now. Anything.

Rui is out there. She is still out there, somewhere. Probably scared. Probably confused. Probably...

A twinge pulls at my chest.

There's a certain hollowness that lingers within me. One that is deep and wide, stretching deep within me. It is a strange and bizarre numbness. I don't even know how to fully explain it. Not properly. Not correctly. All I know is that I am left... I don't know.

Empty.

From the moment I realized Rui was taken all the way to now, I still feel as if a piece of me is...well, missing. That's the best and only way to put it. A huge, ginormous piece of me is gone, torn away in the dead of night. And there's nothing that can fill that hole. Nothing. Not food. Not alcohol. Not sleep. Nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

All I want to do is dial Juuzou or Abara and try to get some kind of an update, but I refrain. And I only refrain because I fear my calling would only be a distraction. That it would take their concentration from their work. And right now, part of their work includes finding my child.

So, though it's painful, I restrain myself, keeping my phone out of reach.

I avoid looking at it. I avoid reading or watching the news. I avoid it all. That's all I can do to at least keep my thoughts somewhat at bay. At least, for now.

I take a deep and hardy breath when my phone dings, a text notification lighting up the screen. Piqued, I glance at it and see it's from Clay. Curious, I allow myself to grab my phone and only go to his message, reading it.

Mr. Key: Hello, Y/N. I don't mean to disturb you in any way. I was just wondering if I could take you anywhere for dinner. It doesn't have to be anything extravagant. It can be casual.

Clay.

He's still here. He's still in H/P. I figured he would have left after shit hit the fan, but here he is. Still here. Still so close.

Honestly, I have no motivation to go out, but as I look at my dreary apartment, void of life, I can't help but sigh. Going out...it might be better for me than sitting here.

Me: Thanks. I'd like that.

**Hello, hello lovelies! So, another short chapter. I won't lie, I was struggling. I took the last three days off to take a small break and decided to return to it today. That said, something quite scary happened near my place of work yesterday (03/17/2022). Now, I will say, this did not happen at the store I work at, but it was at the one next door. It had a lot of us anxious and confused and scared. I won't say what the event was, but I will say there was a casualty (who passed on their way to the hospital, I believe). Luckily, there were no other injuries. This said, when it all first happened, a lot of us were scared. I know I was. I can only imagine how the workers and customers in the affected store felt. I hope none of us ever have to feel that way again. And as of today, I'm still trying to digest what happened. So, apologize for the chapter. Please, remember to remain kind and to show compassion. Thank you so, so much for being you. Wuv yous. <3**

-Noel Ross