✰Rocket Ship✰

Dreaming

Ouma was running. He didn't know what from, but he knows he can't stop.

His breath comes in short pants, and he pauses, leaning over. His stomach twists in a nauseating way, he feels like he might throw up.

Then, the laugh. The deranged man's laugh. Gunshots come from all around. He falls down to the ground, whimpering. Pain through his left arm. Pain, pain, pain, pain pain. He was drowning in it.

His uniform is tattered, and an annoying beeping is coming from somewhere. He recognizes it, but he doesn't know from where.

Shivering, he tries to curl up as tightly as he can. There's pain, a lot of it.

Then, the laughing and gunshots stop suddenly. He was wrapped in someone's arms, and a calming voice came to him.

"Kokichi... Don't worry, it was a dream. I'm here... Listen to my voice. You're safe..."

He curls up to the person, still shivering slightly. He couldn't see them, or anything, but he knows that they're there.

***

Shuichi's face flushes a bright red as Ouma buries his face into the detective's chest. The leader was shivering in his sleep.

Sometimes it's like he's still awake.

He sighs, lying back on the bed. Until Kokichi fell back into his deepest sleep, Saihara was stuck there.

"Afternoon sidekick! How's Ouma?" Kaito walks into the room. Shuichi smiles at him.

"He had another nightmare." He explains. The two spent a lot of time there, plus Rantaro, so all three of the boys knew exactly how to deal with any situation better than the nurses did.

Rantaro walks in next, carrying some takeaways in. He gives Kaito his. Ouma had fallen back into his deep sleep again, so Shuichi eases his way out of the bed.

"Hey Rantaro." Rantaro passes him his usual order. They eat in silence, all watching the boy.

Then, something unusual happens.

Ouma's eyes open.

Rantaro stares at him, a tear falling down his cheek as he stares. Kaito takes a deep breath, holding it in. Shuichi just freezes.

"Nnhgg..." He makes a noise, raising a hand to his head. Kaito takes a step forward, wanting to be closer.

"Kokichi..."

His head turns, and his eyes widen, tears forming in them. Everyone holds their breath, until the boy shakily speaks.

"I m.. miss.. ed you..."

Everyone breaks into tears. Kaito takes one of his hands, Rantaro takes the other.

Shuichi smiles softly, still crying. He can see Kaito and him exchanging a quiet conversation. They are so clearly in love, it's a bittersweet feeling.

I need to move on.

He stands near Rantaro, not wanting to leave, despite his promise to himself. He just watched them talk. Kokichi's voice is still not good, but he can talk.

"U-uhm... Ho.. how long w.. as.. I as.. asleep... F.. or?" He asks, his words croaky and uncertain. The room falls silent.

"... Six months..." Rantaro admits at last. His eyes widen and fill with tears.

"Shh... Don't worry, don't worry... It's okay..." Kaito starts to comfort the smaller boy, who begins to sob quietly. He gently hugs him, letting the hospitalised boy cry into his shirt. The astronaut gently places a kiss onto the leader's forehead. The smaller one just cuddles into his chest in a content manner. Rantaro smiles at them, and then the door swings open.

Kiibo, with Rantaro's three sisters. Two of them go to jump onto his bed, but the robot and explorer hold them back.

The energy was high, and all centered around a content Kokichi.

Word count: 589