We Have Each Other - Under Construction

Chapter 4

*Taka POV*
After another restless night, Mondo and I leave for my house. We've been going back and forth between houses for the past week.
We both want to see our families, but we can't cope without each other. I believe I read about this phenomenon somewhere when I started studying psychology.
When someone goes through a particularly traumatic event, they can form a strong attachment to a person or object. It's called a comfort item.
It's very possible that Mondo is my comfort item, and vice versa.
I think this over as Mondo's bike pulls into my driveway.
My father greets me with a bone crushing hug, just like every time we come home.
The bags under his eyes tell me that he didn't sleep last night. I feel a clenching feeling in my gut, and I wish I didn't have to leave him.
I can only imagine how horrible these past two months have been for him. He told me that he was originally one of the officers trying to find me and the others. Apparently he was removed from the case after a few days.
He releases me from the hug and turns to Mondo. He greets the biker with a firm handshake and nothing more. The two have come to an understanding. My father doesn't approve of Mondo's... life choices, but he's willing to work with him if it means that I remain mentally stable.
Mondo doesn't have a specific opinion on my father. He doesn't exactly like the whole police officer thing, but other than that he has no problems.
I make my way to my room and pull out my textbooks from my closet.
"Are you really about to study?" Mondo gasps. He's not trying to be rude, he's genuinely surprised. I turn to him and straighten my already perfect posture.
"Of course! We've taken more than six months off! We're falling farther and farther behind every minute!" I exclaim. As much as I'd like to slack off, I can't afford to go this long without a study session. How am I ever supposed to make things better for my father and I if my grades aren't top notch? Mondo raises his eyebrows, staring at me incredulously.
"I wouldn't exactly call that a vacation, Taka." He meant it as a joke, but we both wince at the memories that come with his words. I shake my head, sorting my thoughts.
"Even so, I've spent far too much time away from my studies." I declare, sitting at my desk and opening my algebra 2 textbook. Mondo sighs and flops down on my bed, pulling out his phone.
"If that's really what you want then I won't stop you." He stares into my eyes, serious for a moment.
"Promise me you'll stop if it gets to be too much." I nod sternly and turn my head back to my books.
I know that, even if things get overwhelming, I won't stop. It's just the way I am. The more stressed or overworked I am, the more I feel like I have to work. Mondo will probably have to physically take the books from me at some point today.
I don't mind. As long as I get a good study session in, I'll be fine.
It's not long before I start eating those words.
I find myself unable to focus. Every now and then a word or picture will stick out to me, and my mind will spiral down a rabbit hole.
I've never been so distracted. Even as a child, I had a clear view of what I was aiming for, and what I had to do to get there. The fact that I can barely get past a single paragraph is unnerving to say the least.
I hardly notice it, but I start to feel a dull pain in the back of my head.
I keep trying to focus on the equations in front of me, holding my head in my hands. It doesn't hurt much, but the pain forces me to remember my 'death'.
At this point, I'm not even trying to solve the math problems, I'm just staring at the page. I can feel the pain growing, turning into a sharp, thudding sensation.
I feel a hand on my shoulder, and look up to see my friend's concerned face.
"Are you okay man? You're shaking." Mondo asks worriedly. The noise makes me lose it. My head explodes with pain and I grip at my hair, curling in on myself. It feels like my skull is trying to split open.
Suddenly I'm back in that dark storage room, struggling to move, to call for help, anything.
I bite my lower lip so hard it draws blood, trying to contain the sobs that are desperately trying to escape.
"Shit!" Mondo curses loudly, making me wince. I squeeze my eyes shut as he sprints from the room, calling for someone. A few desperate cries escape me, the thudding in my head only growing.
I distantly notice the blood from my lip dripping onto my uniform.
Mondo runs into the room, my father in tow. They kneel down on either side of my chair, trying to calm me down.
"What's wrong Taka?! What is it?!" My father asks frantically.
I flinch away from his voice, but still try to answer. My explanation is lost, however, in a series of whimpers and sobs. My thoughts scold me despite the situation. I sound so pathetic. Mondo moves so that his arm is around my shoulders, calmly stroking my back.
"Hey, hey it's okay. I need you to calm down aniki." He whispers, seemingly realizing that noise makes it worse. I take a few deep breaths before finally speaking.
"M-my head..." I pause to gasp for air.
"M-my head h-hurts s-so much." I sob, burying my face into Mondo's chest. The light coming through the windows isn't helping much. He sighs and hugs me closer as dad stands up.
"I'll get some Tylenol." He mumbles, trying to keep his voice down. As my father leaves, Mondo adjusts so that my arm is around his shoulders.
"I'm gonna move you to the bed. Is that okay?" He asks me worriedly. I can only nod and Mondo hoists me up.
He basically has to drag me to my bed since I can barely get my legs to stop shaking.
Once I'm sitting down, Mondo leaves my side. The pain in my head is so intense that I can barely open my eyes, so I panic and grab around blindly for him. He can't leave me alone. I can't be alone again. Mondo gently takes my hands.
"I'm just gonna close the curtains. It's okay." I nod, trying and failing to calm myself down. It hurts so much.
The room darkens and I'm able to open my eyes a little more. Mondo is suddenly right there beside me, pulling me into a bear hug. I grip his jacket tightly, my tears staining his white tank top.
"I'm so sorry aniki. Nothing is going to happen to you." He whispers. Something soft pressed against the wound on my lip, soaking up the blood.
The pain doesn't subside in the slightest, but I find myself able to breathe a little bit better.
"It's a promise between men." Mondo finishes. Even though I can't see his face, I know he has a sad smile on his face.
A weak chuckle escapes me and I scoot closer, finally feeling safe.
"A promise between men." I repeat, taking a deep breath.
Dad walks back into the room with a glass of water in one hand, and two pills in the other. I take them from him and he sits down on my other side. I down both pills in one gulp and launch myself into my fathers arms. He's surprised, but quickly reciprocates.
"Hey dad?" I say, removing the napkin from between my lips.
"Yeah Taka?" He mumbles, pulling me even closer. I start to cry again as I hold him tight.
"I really missed you..." He takes a shaky breath and I know he's crying just like me.
"I missed you too, son." His voice trembles as he speaks. I smile warmly and I start to drift off.
My headache eventually subsides, and I fall asleep feeling more secure than I have for a very, very long time.

                        ***** Time Skip *****

It isn't long before I wake up. Im still in my fathers arms, holding on to him as if I would die if I let go.
I can hear him speaking softly to Mondo, but I'm too disoriented to focus on what they're saying.
I can't say I'm not surprised that it wasn't a nightmare that woke me up. I can't even remember having a dream. I start to sit up, startling the other two.
"Hey Taka. How're you feeling?" Dad asks. The sharp throbbing in my head has lessened to a dull ache.
"Much better." I smile. I sit up in between them and cross my legs.
"How long was I asleep?" Mondo pulls out his phone and checks the time.
"Just thirty minutes." He tells me. I nod. So that's why I don't remember having a nightmare. I wasn't asleep long enough.
I stand up and open the curtains, holding back a wince from the sudden light. 
"Great! I can still get a study session in!" I exclaim.
"What?!"
"Hold up!" Mondo and my dad say in unison. They both stand up, dad sitting me back down while Mondo puts my books back in my closet.
"You seriously want to study after all that?!" Mondo asks seriously.
"Of course! I can't afford to slack off!" I say, standing back up. I soon regret this as my head throbs painfully and I'm forced to sit back down. Dad puts a hand on my shoulder.
"You're not slacking off. You've been through something no one should ever have to go through." He says in a stern, but caring voice.
"You need to give yourself time to recover. You're not going to get anything done like this."
I look down at the floor.
"When you put it like that..." I mumble. It's true that nothing productive will happen if I'm having a breakdown every time I try and study. Mondo returns to the bed and takes my hand.
"Just spend some time relaxing. We've more than earned it." He smiles. I nod at him as dads phone goes off.
"I have to get to work. You'll be okay?" Mondo and I nod and dad leaves for the station. Mondo sighs and stands up.
"Want some food?" He asks calmly. I nod, smiling at my best friend.
"Yeah... thanks kyodai."