Somewhere Else [Bfb Fanfiction] BACK IN PRODUCTION

X Finds His Value (pt. 2)

"Are you okay back there!?" Four shouted, glancing behind his shoulder to find X looking scared out of his mind. Four had been running for a couple of minutes now, but he had not realized X was struggling behind him. 

Slowly, his sprinting calmed to a jog pace, then a walk, when standing in place.

X was breathing heavily, dropping to his knees and inhaling violently. Four looked down at the small yellow variable and got on his knees too. He slowly rubbed X's back in hopes it would calm down his coughing fit.

"Hey, hey, X. Breathe, okay?"

"H-how. . ." X puffed, holding his chest and looking up at Four. "How d-do you ru-u-un so fast?"

Four believed that X was making an effort to confront him about his sudden action minutes before. The small variable was orange to his face, and held his chest in pain. Four felt a pang of pity in his chest for him.

"I thought all expressions had that kind of speed." Four confessed blankly. In all honesty, Four was not even sure himself why he assumed that. None of his classmates were that fast, and with X's tiny legs, he sure could not keep up with him.

"Not variables, that's for sure!!" X yelled with a hint of irritation in his shrill voice. "Can't we just get back to the playground and hang out there!? Why all the way out here!?"

Alright, now I feel really bad about dragging X this far out.

"X, the seesaw is just this way. We can make it." Four calmly said, trying to hide the desperateness in his voice. Four had always wanted to meet an expression that was from outside the city. 

Four always had a fascination with other cultures and subspecies of expressions. Ever since his father had passed, he hoped that he could find a way to leave and see the world. That was one dream that his father passed onto him. It gave him hope that there were other place he could look forward to outside of Numberdale. That there was somewhere else he could go in the future to live out his dreams.

"Hey, uh, would. . ." Four commented, but his voice dragged. Four's previous actions towards X probably came off as pushy and rude to him, so he juggled with the idea of carrying him the rest of the way to the seesaw. That would probably come off as weird as well.

"Yes?" X replied. His breath still stagnated occasionally, but nothing too major from earlier. Four looked at the shorter expression with slight reassurance and completely forgot his original idea. He was just happy the yellow variable was not going to pass out.

"What?"

"What were you going to ask me?"

"Oh!" The thought flew back into his head as suddenly as it flew out. He lightly chuckled to himself, conjuring a confused look from X. "Uhm, would. . . you like me to carry you the rest of the way there?"

Four removed his hand from the back of his head and slowly began to get up off the ground. He brushed his knees off quickly and offered his hand to X. X glanced at him, and quickly looked away. This caused Four's worries of rejection to bubble up a little bit.

Crap, this is going to get really awkward now, good job Fo-

"Sure."

That was not the answer he expected. While still being slightly stunned, X grabbed his hand and pulled himself up. Four looked at him, then at his hand. 

X was still holding it. 

What do I do? Why is he still holding my hand?

A small splash of violet swept onto his face. Feeling his face heat up a little bit, he violently shook his head. The sudden movement startled the smaller variable, and he quickly pulled his beige hand away from his.