4 Leaf Clover - ᴹˣᴹˣᴹˣᴹ

18.

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Clover spent the whole day hiking to the city - by the time he arrived, the daylight had vanished and the lamp posts down each avenue were the only things illuminating his route. He wandered, but his feet were killing him, with each step there was a stinging pain to follow. Eventually, Clover located the bridge he had survived under for the first ever night. He sat down in the exact spot, the only difference, there was finally some grass to cushion his body.

Clover couldn't believe he had discovered himself back here - back under the humid bridge where he had survived his first night being homeless. All those months ago, he had accumulated money, found hope in a job and purchased a tent to sleep in. The first night was chilly, the same breeze made goosebumps grow on Clover's arms. He was already sitting with his coat on, but he started shivering.

He was exhausted, walking had severely fatigued him but now that he was cold, he sat upright shivering. He couldn't rest while he was so cold. Clover was at a loss to do, all the shops would be sealed by now so he couldn't go purchase another jacket or jumper and he refused to get any of Finley's old clothes filthy. If his other clothes got unclean so quickly, then he wouldn't be able to wear them later on.

He cried instead. It was easy for the tears to build up, easier for them to hit his cheeks and trickle into the grass. He felt so miserable, he felt like he had destroyed his own life. Leaving home appeared like such a flawed idea as he sobbed under the bridge. He left to prove a point to himself, to escape his heartless fate and now he desired to return somewhere warm more than anything - he didn't want to go home but he was so cold. The hysteria he put himself under was warming him up a bit but he shuffled into a ball, hoping to preserve some heat.

"Just one night," He whispered to himself, because tomorrow, he would buy another tent and go to work and he would start saving up once more.

3 am had strolled around and Yuki couldn't get a second of sleep. All three of the lovers were sleeping in their independent rooms but he could hear steps on the landing beyond his room. He waited for somebody to come into his room but rather, the steps would cease for a few minutes before starting back up. He spent the night with the thought of Elio leaving him tormenting his mind. He knew he couldn't handle it. The thought alone was heart-breaking enough that he would sweat under the covers but if Elio actually departed...he would cry for days.

Yuki thought about Clover as well - after Elio had left the kitchen, he read the letter in the notebook. He remained in the kitchen isolated as he cried and made the paper damp. The apology was unanticipated but it was Clover, and Yuki knew the young boy was innocent of the crime Yuki blamed him for. He wasn't a hypocrite, he wasn't attempting to offend them but Yuki lashed out. He had been the prey of those words before and he loathed them with a passion - but when they came from a young boy who had been through similar things as him, he could learn to excuse him.

A knock came at his door, finally, whoever was roaming around finally dared to knock on his door. He hoped for Elio, but Finley tiptoed in instead.

"Yuki, you have to do something," Finley whispered into the darkness.

For hours, Yuki had sat in his bed, thinking. Finley tried to get some sleep but other reasons had been messing with his mind, making it hard to sleep.

"Why are you still awake?" Yuki questioned, Finley was always the first to fall asleep.

"I can't sleep," Finley sighed, sitting on the edge of the bed, "All I can hear is Elio,"

Yuki turned to him, Finley's pale features darkened and shadowed by the veil of night.

"What do you mean?"

"I hear him crying," Finley whispered, "He hasn't stopped for hours, Yuki,"

Yuki's eyes shut and he laid his head back on his headboard. Elio had been crying for hours, since tea time, and no doubt it suggested he was heartbroken. Yuki felt his heart become heavier at the words, he had done something unforgivable and caused such distress to his lovers. He put his arm over his eyes and thought for a moment. Yuki knew getting Clover to come back would resolve this - but his dignity would be harmed if he was the one to convince him to come back.

It had to be done. For Elio, for Finley and for himself. He was getting along with him too.

"I'm going out," Yuki said, "If I'm not back in the morning, call my boss and tell him I'm too sick to come in to work,"

"Where are you going?" Finley questioned.

"To find Clover," Yuki said, getting dressed into warmer clothes, he had no doubt Clover would be freezing.

Finley stayed silent, observing his lover get dressed and fold up a blanket. He watched Yuki move around quietly in the darkness and grinned when he hurried down the stairs and out of the house. It was pitch-black, and Finley was anxious for Clover's safety but now with Yuki running out to locate him, he had no doubt that when morning came, both of them would be home safely. Finley stayed in Yuki's bed and decided to get some shut-eye.

Yuki's car was freezing, but he drove as the heater blasted and warmed him up. 40 minutes it was supposed to take him to get to the metropolis yet he somehow managed to get there in 28. He drove slowly through each avenue, his windows down to see if he could spot a male with average height and a bit on the skinny side. He drove for 2 hours, getting in and out of his car to explore through alleyways his car wouldn't fit down, and to search sanctuaries but he had yet to discover any sign of Clover.

Yuki was about to give up, the sun was arriving radiating an amiable hue over the earth. He was desperate for a drink, so he drove to the most immediate corner shop he could locate. He walked in and paid for water, a simple bottle. He stepped out of the store and sighed, he could feel the weight of his eye bags, no doubt staining the corners of his eyes a shade of purple. Not a wink of sleep can do that to someone.

Yet, what was this? A dark blue heap under a bridge. Yuki felt his blood run cold at the prospect that Clover had slept beneath a bridge and possibly died overnight. He was a detective, Yuki had seen his fair share of lifeless bodies, ones that had been strangled and mutilated by fucked up individuals, but if Clover was dead by his own hands, he wouldn't know what to do with himself.

He walked over there, cautious. Part of his mind was preparing for the worst, that this was Clover and he remained under the bridge all night, shivering to his untimely death. He bent down near the unmoving body and pulled back the hood on the person's head.

A man, mumbling and shivering but it was not Clover. Yuki sighed, a part of him was relieved that Clover wasn't this man who was drugged and near death. His senses came back to him and he called the local office. He was also relieved Elio would not be at work today, no doubt calling in sick as well.

"Clover, where are you?" Yuki mumbled to himself as he climbed back into his car. It was warmer now inside, away from the morning wind.

He continued driving, stopping for sustenance, and some petrol, and he didn't stop driving. From 3 am to 6 am to 3 pm to 6 pm, Yuki had no luck. He even questioned Finley about the establishment Clover worked at but apparently, according to his manager, he didn't show up for today's shift. Yuki was getting worried, and he only heard news of Elio from Finley. He hadn't left his room, not even to cook food.

So, Yuki continued driving. Down roads he had never been down before, down roads he had. He searched in alleyways, ones outside of the city. He had scrutinised everywhere but he couldn't have faith he would discover him. On his final attempt, he saw a gathering of people outside of a fish shop. The night was young, but dark. They were noisy and appeared unstable, almost like a group of drunk people. Yuki peered at them, the only light on was that shop so he got out to examine it closer.

"We got another one!" A drunk exclaimed as he stumbled out of the shop with someone under his arm.

Yuki stopped at the sight - a sickly-looking Clover was being towed under the drunk's arm.