Kaleidoscope: The Fox And The Butterfly

17- Look At Me

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"Aza, wanna go climb that tree?"

"W-Wait Ren! That's dangerous!"

"Wooo! Check it out! It's so breezy up here!"

"Ren! Be careful... kay?"

"Aza! c'mere! It's pretty fun!"

"No! You know I'm afraid of-"

"W-Wait... w-woah, oh- ooohhh!"

"Ren!"

"!!!"

A gasp leaves Ren's mouth as his eyes shoot open. To a bright light, he jolts his body upwards, yet straps of bandages stop him in his track, "gah!"

"Ren!" A pale hand quickly holds his shoulder. Ren looks to it's owner, seeing Charlie's unscathed face eyeing him with worry.

"Charlie..? Where are we? Where's Niz?" Ren asks with a croaky voice as he lays down.

As the ceiling fan swipes its board, Charlie twirl her fingers together, "we're in the hospital now. And Niz... he's getting his wounds checked, but I'm sure he's okay..." She says the last line with a tone of worry.

"And what about you? Are you hurt?" Ren responds.

"Oh, I'm fine... Don't worry about me," She says nonchalantly.

Ren's ears relaxes down, "Well, that's a relief..."

"So, about Niz... Is he in a bad shape?" Ren's lips quivers.

"No!" Charlie slams the bed, "he's... He's fine..." She lowers her head, squinting her eyes as she clenches her fists, "he has to be..."

At her shaky voice, Ren clenches his fists and closes his eyes as he hugs his knees, "Goddamn it..." His thoughts travels to moments before, when he got all that chance to subdue the wasp, but didn't, "If only I was strong enough-"

"!!!" The door barges open.

"Fucking... let me see him!" Niz's growls enters the room, together with other distressed voices.

"Sir! Please! You're not in the condition to do this!"

"Sir, please calm down and get back to your room!"

The nurses groans as they hinders Niz's steps, pulling him away from the doorframe as he tries to pull himself in.

"I don't give a fucking... Damn!" With his strength, he manages to fend off the hands and tentacles holding him back. As the nurses recuperate, he quickly steps in and locks the door.

"Niz!? What are you-" Charlie stops herself when Niz drops to his bum, weeping for air. She then goes to him, helping him stand.

"Damn... Those nurses really took a toll on me..." Niz releases himself from Charlie's hold to stretch his arms, "well I guess if you work as a nurse in this kind of city that kind of strength is mandatory..."

"Niz! You're okay!" Ren gasps in joy.

"Could've said the same to you," Niz smiles.

While the two boys smiles, Charlie stares at Niz with glassy eyes and pouty lips before she hugs him tight.

"Whoa! Now where is this coming from?" Niz playfully says.

"Idiot! I thought you were dying!" She burry her face into his chest.

"Well, you're the idiot if you thought that weak ass venom was going to wreck me good," Niz giggles as he embraces her back, "don't worry old hag, I won't die."