The Phoenix - BBS

Friends 🫂

A chill clung to his skin, his head light and body aching something fierce. Brock groaned, rolling over. He didn't move for another moment, gathering his bearings.

Last thing he remembered was his vision going black in the water, but he had a strange memory of watching his hands turn to claws and an intense power flooding his body as he stared at Dr. Jackals. Did his Phoenix emerge? What would that mean for future sessions?

"Brock?" Jon's eager voice came through the wall and Brock opened his eyes a crack, the light strong and painful against his headache. "Jon?" He croaked, his throat extremely dry. His water was across the room though, and he didn't want to move yet.

"Oh my God, thank fuck you're awake, you've been unconscious for 6 days," Jon said, his voice rough and thick with relief. Brock raised an eyebrow shocked.

"Only six days?" He asked shocked and Jon chuckled. "Yeah, only six. Our guards have been letting me come into your room during their shifts for a half hour or so to try and warm you up, that's why it didn't last so long," he replied and Brock blinked.

"You've been in my room?" He asked shocked and Jon laughed again. "Yeah, you have a lot of books. I know you said something about it, but I really didn't realize how much," he said and Brock made a face.

"Well, crap. Thank you so much," Brock said, still a little bewildered but very grateful. "Any time. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. You've helped me heal so many times these last 9 years, I'm just happy I was able to help you for once," Jon whispered and Brock smiled faintly.

"You're my best friend, Jon, you really are," he whispered and Jon hummed. "And you're mine. I'm just really happy you're okay. My shark is kinda pissed over it all and wants to show the doctors exactly how pissed," he said and Brock winced.

"I wouldn't. My Phoenix manifested after I passed out I think and I'm really scared to see how that's going to affect the procedures," Brock whispered, his body shaking slightly at the thought of it.

"He manifested? Oh fuck, that is not going to be good. Did he, you know, show everything?" Jon asked worriedly and Brock shook his head.

"No, thankfully. I don't even want to know what they'd do if they knew I had wings," he whispered and Jon huffed. "I'm still jealous of that, that would be so cool," he said wistfully and Brock choked out a laugh.

"You can breathe underwater, do you have any idea how much I'd love that? I can't swim, I almost drowned," Brock said and Jon blew a raspberry at him.

"But how are you feeling? When I first came to see you, they'd barely put you on the bed, you were half off it. Your skin was blue and- and your clothes were soaked. I almost couldn't hear you breathe," Jon whispered, his voice breaking.

Brock's heart broke. He wished he could take that memory from his best friend, it would probably haunt him for a very long time.

"I'm okay Jon, I really am. A little sore and very thirsty, but I'm okay," he reassured him, closing his eyes again as he started to try and stretch each limb out slowly. They were very stiff from lack of movement.

Jon breathed out quickly and Brock could hear him moving about his room. After getting some feeling in his body Brock opened his eyes again and checked the clock. 5:38pm. If they were still delivering food to him, they'd be here by about 6, but that would also mean the doctors would know he was awake. And that would mean the restart of the procedures.

Brock's body trembled at that thought but he took a breath. He'd been doing this for too many years and has been through literal hell and back. He'd be okay. He knew he would.