Hiraeth | The Outsiders

|2|

He couldn't remember much of it. It was just a blur, and nothing made sense to him. One minute he was in the lot, newspaper floating away during the windy night. Next came muffled shouts and sharp pains all over his body. It was an uncalled for sneak attack - a cheap stab in the back. Socs always did them dirty, but this was immoral on so many levels. He could only pray that after last night's beating from his own blood would be the worst of it, and they were merciful in some way.

Blurs of colors and intense sunlight, baking him on the pavement he laid upon. He lost his breath four times, then five. Everything hurt, and he couldn't run away. His throat was dry, voiced cracking. Everything was faded and intense. It just hurt. So much. He couldn't do anything for himself. His yelps were silenced with each aim to the stomach as he protected himself the best he could. 

Suddenly, it stopped. Everything was spinning. Streaks of color dashed around him from where he lay crippled, coughing up something metallic as he flipped onto his side, gripping his chest. Shouts faded in and out, a distant scream catching his attention. Someone heard him. His ears rang loudly, deafening him as his vision fizzled out like television static, before a black tunnel appeared. His thoughts just about went blank if it wasn't for a shift in scenery from the blue skies.

"...ok at me, kid." A blob of a figure appeared before him, cold skin gently grazing his warm and beaten form. He flinched, the static fading before him and ringing failing as a light-skinned blonde hovered before him. "Easy...find a place..." Did she mean to find someone to help? The lot wasn't far from his friends - the best people he knew.

His throat hurt, the metallic taste more prominent upon shifting his tongue. It went quiet, but he assumed the next muffle asked where as she shifted him gently, hands cooling him. A finger pointed weakly, and he was able to whisper the street and a familiar name.

Nothing.

-~*~-

A knock at the door, and they immediately knew something was up. Everyone in the area knew that the house was always open for whatever need it be. Chatter went silent, and everyone stared at the door. "Uh...someone gonna answer that?" The voice came from the bathroom, where a boy finished buttoning his DX shirt, standing beside his friend in a matching set.

"I can get it-" The youngest eating breakfast was cut off when the knocking became more urgent and aggressive. Taking this as a threat, the lead of the house, ushered everyone back while rolling up his sleeves. The three hiding in the kitchen peered back around the corner as the eldest peeked out the door, breath caught in his throat as curses flew from his lips, surprising them as he ripped the door open.

It didn't take long to find out why, for a new figure stomped in without a word, shoving the door in the face of the one who assisted her in opening it, seeing her hands were full. "Holy shit, Johnny!"

Immediately, a hoard of boys darted from their hiding spot and towards the weak body, only for the one holding him to stop them dead in their tracks with bared teeth. Half of the bunch recognized the girl immediately. "You so much as cluster around the boy and I'll mop the floor with ya!" Halting immediately, they stood a few feet from the powerful figure - a female, which was practically not heard of in the Curtis house in a while. "Hey, you're the Cola chick-"

"I need gauze, a med kit, a bowl of fresh water, a clean sheet, and whatever of the purest alcohol you can get." Seeing they all stood there, jaws still on the floor, her temper flared, "Now, you buffoons! 'Less you want your pal to go under six feet!" Immediately, a single thought popped into their heads; Drill sergeant.

"Shit, man!" They flew around the house like mad men, barking orders as the blonde stood in the living room, resisting a smirk in satisfaction. Listening to the stranger in their territory, who graciously set down their gang pet after a clean sheet as requested (rather demanded) was laid out on their couch. Letting out a breath, she rolled her shoulders as what she needed appeared one by one. She must have came quite a ways. But how would she have known to go there? Johnny seemed to be out cold.