Renaissance

XII

Heph's P.O.V.

My head feels heavy again. When I blink, it feels like ages for my eyes to open again. I can't differentiate between being awake and dreaming. But I don't think I've slept at all.

It's been two days. One day left. Donnie tried reassuring me that it wasn't my fault, it wasn't his fault either but then, who is to blame? I don't want to answer that. I know it was my fault. I should have turned myself in right then and there. What the hell was I thinking? I'm so selfish, aren't I? I should have learned by now; I should have learned from the last time. I should be the one who's dead. Or--missing. I mean, missing.

I hear a knock at the door, soft enough I'm not sure I really heard it. But I lift my head up from my pillow and slowly turn towards the door as it opens. Worried blue eyes peered at me from the opening, slowly coming closer to me.

A soft "Hey," brushes against my ears. I feel his heavy hand on my shoulder. I make a noise that resembles something like a greeting and his mouth frowns a little bit more. He sits with me for a long while that seems like minutes in my warped mindset. I feel his hand grab mine and suddenly I'm standing with him, looking up at him.
"You need some fresh air. You've been laying here for two days, Heph; that's unhealthy." He reasons but it feels wrong. I shouldn't leave this room. I pull my hand out of his, letting it fall to my side. What, why do I need to leave? I still have one more day. One more. I can do that.

I feel Leo's hand in mine again pulling me along. I don't fight it this time. Maybe I can't stay here. Giotta gives me an encouraging meow from his spot on the bed before proceeding to knead his paws into the comforter. I stare at the back of Leo's shell, a sticker with two skeletons entwined in a loving embrace and the word "L'amoureux" under them caught my eye. I wonder if Leo knows French? I watch his mask tails fall over his shell, looking at the slight burns or tears in them and I bite my cheek to keep from crying. What is wrong with me?

"I hope you like peanut butter and jelly." Leo chirps as he takes an old backpack off of the stairs. He moves in slow motion for a second, letting me stare at him for a few moments. He's so pretty, those eyes...I inhale sharply and he's not going so slow anymore. He's trying to cheer me up, isn't he?

"I do," I mumble, catching the surprised look he briefly throws at me, thinking I couldn't see him. I thought he was going to speak, but he grabs my hand again and leads me out of the lair. I hear music faintly. He must have a whole ass picnic set up. My heart gives a meager thud of life, wincing as it flutters like a growing flame. How dare he make me feel better. I follow him down a tunnel, not like I have much choice, and he takes me into a room I didn't know existed.

There's candles lighting up the place, pale pink faery lights strung around the low ceiling that casted an ethereal glow about the room. In the middle of all of this there was a couple of blankets spread out on the floor amongst a few couch pillows. Needless to say, I was impressed--That doesn't even begin to describe the feeling I felt in that moment, but it's close.

"Leo, I-" He shook his head, motioning for me to sit next to him on the floor blankies. I dropped down next to him, watching his eyes search over the blankets and finally met mine. His hand was warm as it slid over mine. It raised goosebumps up and down my arm, making him smirk slightly. I shouldn't be feeling like this! My best friend was just kidnapped and I'm already going on a date with a very smooth, very hot anthropomorphic turtle?? That should not be a sentence I should be thinking.

"I'm sorry about Eterna." He rubs the pad of his thumb over the back of my hand, eliciting a warm smile from myself. Everything is so soft right now. The steady throbbing beat in the background, the feel of Leo's hand, his smile. Nothing could ruin it. Not Hollows, not disappearances of best friends, not the mystery of what Alexander the Great has to do with all of this. I sigh softly and shake my head,