V & V - Rageous Rageon Redemption.

Hearing Colors

Fred POV:

*BAM*

The lock flies off the door, it swinging open to reveal the cool night air. Surprisingly, the sky is blood red—not the usual color.

Fred: "Shit... that can't be good. Roman, how did you get here?"

Roman: "By my car. I can take either Rollie or Kid Ritz with me."

Fred: "Here, take Kid Ritz. I'm pretty sure he's only gone deaf. I need to get Rollie to a hospital. Here's the road my store is on."

I run to my truck, pulling a crumpled business card from the backseat. Roman and I gently place Rollie into the front seat, my heart breaking as I see how much pain he's in.

Roman: "All right. I'll get to your store, then what?"

Fred: "Here's the key. Get Kid Ritz inside, and don't open the door for anyone, okay? I know where the extra key is hidden, and I'll get Rollie inside once we're done. There are beers in the fridge, but not much else."

Roman: "Okay... stay safe."

Fred: "I will. Thank you, dude. We'll see you soon."

Roman and I give each other a brisk hug, our eyes meeting with a joined sense of urgency and responsibility for our friends. Taking one last look at Kid Ritz and Roman, I climb into my truck, tearing away from the Rage Dome. Rollie groans quietly next to me, clutching his arm while keeping his eyes shut.

Fred: "Rollie... I'm... I'm so sorry. That bullet was meant for... I'm sorry."

He shakes his head, meeting my eyes tiredly.

Rollie: "It's... it's okay."

Fred: "Shit... it's really not, Rollie."

Rollie looks down, resting his hand on mine that's on the stick shift.

Rollie: "Really... it'll be okay."

I look at him quickly, then back at the road. My heart beats fast in my chest. Why am I so... excited? I just shot the kid; now I'm getting butterflies in my stomach?

Rollie: "Fred... Freddy?"

Fred: "Yes?"

I look worried at him, then back at the road as I avoid parked cars randomly angled in the road.

Rollie: "C-Can you... hold... my knee? I... I'm..."

He struggles to talk through a shaky breath. I immediately do as I'm asked, and I feel him relax a little under my touch as I rub his knee with his hand still over mine. We remain quiet, the sounds of his labored breathing and my stressed sighs filling the truck.

*COUGH*

Rollie coughs, his hand leaving mine as it flies to his chest. He coughs hard again, spitting up black blood. It doesn't look like normal blood, and he looks terrified as he sees it coat his burgundy shirt.

Fred: "Oh fuck! Shit, I have water back here."

I reach behind me, pulling a water bottle for the coughing boy beside me. Rollie takes it, sipping it gingerly.

Rollie: "That... is quite possibly the grossest thing I've ever done."

Fred: "Does your chest hurt?"

Rollie nods, looking paler by the minute. We drive silently, my frustration growing as we hit every red light possible, making road rage building internally. I'd drive us off the sides of the roads, but I don't think Rollie's body can handle that repeated impact.