Tobias grinned a little, letting Firiko flutter down to his shoulder. "So you can all finally go back at peace!…" His voice trailed a bit. But then…. He hesitated and took the bird into his hand, stroking Firiko's head stressfully.
"You ok?" asked Skye, his face considerably relieved as Rashi told him the details mentally.
"What???" Tobias glanced up. "I'm fine, yeah." I suppose so… But I'm not gonna be totally alone… His petting eased on the bird.
Megan shifted her weight around. "It isn't gonna be all that bad…" I hope…
Skye smiled lightly, knowing what Tobias was probably feeling.
Rashi sighed, almost wishing mind magic worked on the kid.
"Well…." Megan stretched. "I'm not sure about you guys, but I think that I'm gonna go and get ready for bed…. And Tobias, you need to get to bed on time – you still have school tomorrow…."
He sighed and stood up. "I know…" Tomorrow's gonna be the worst….
Skye sighed, "Gonna be harder on him than anyone else…" he said softly.
Megan headed upstairs to go and take her shower.
Tobias took Firiko in his hands and followed after her to go put him back in his cage. “I hope they return safely…. they really deserve it, don’t you think???”
The bird chirpped.
“I think so too.” After all they’ve been through here, anyway….
Rashi nodded, flopping on the floor. "Mind telling my brothers?" he asked,
"Already on it," said Skye,
Megan went and took her shower as she said she was gonna do.
Tobias put Firiko back in his cage. "I guess we can save playtime for tomorrow… Right now I have to go to bed…." And maybe if I'm lucky, I'll get to say goodbye…. He felt his throat get rubbery and sore.
RIO! Skye called out.
What now…. Rio answered,
Rashi found us a way home!
Really?! asked Alzura, jumping into the conversation.
How?!
It was under our noses in Marceo's lair! Anyway, do you think you two can make it to Megan's by morning?
Tobias was about to head for bed when tears creeped from.his eyes. "Tomorrow will be awful…." He muttered. "Not only do I have to go back to school…." He shook his head, his face contorting as he resisted the urge to cry. "How was I so senseless as to think I wanted them to go back….?"
Probably not, we had to go further out then we expected.. we won't make it back until evening at least… Said Rio,
Early afternoon at the earliest added Alzura.
Alright then, We'll wait. Actually this works out nicely cause it gives Tobias a chance to say goodbye.
Tobias??
Tobias sat on his bed, giving Firiko an undeserving sullen look. "It'll just be hard since they're practically the only people I get along with besides my 'family'… But even then…" He put his head in his hands. "They have to do what needs to be done…." And I can't stop them from doing that….
He's the kid we saved with you and Rashi
Oh… Ok then…
Anyway we'll see you tommorrow!
(Timeskippy til Morning?)
(Sure thingie :3)
Megan got up as usual, making her morning coffee and stuff. She glanced at the clock on the microwave and sighed. I woke him up almost ten minutes ago….
Tobias sat in his bed. He didn't want to get up. He didn't want to go to school. He didn't even want the day to play out like it should. I don't want them to leave. I want them to stay…. But I want them to be happy, too – back where they belong… Yet… Then who's gonna walk me home?… Who's gonna be my friend when I can't play with Firiko? Both the bird and the– He cut himself off and sobbed in bed. He couldn't go any further without making himself more upset.
Rashi came in from the back door. "Morning Megan." He said cheerfully.
"Good morning…" She said back. I'm beginning to wonder…. "Say, Rashi? Can you do me a favor and check on Tobias for me?… I swore I woke him up, and I'm wondering what he's doing up there…."
"Can do" said Rashi heading for the stairs. "I was gonna tell him when we were heading out anyway."
"Which happens to be this evening when Rio and Alzura get their butts back here." Said Skye coming in.
I figured…. She thought, swirling her cup around in circles. He’ll be so upset….
Tobias wiped his face. “I have no idea what I’m going to do without them….” They were the only people who actually didn’t see me as… as some monster…..
Rashi slipped upstairs and into Tobias' room. "Hey what're you crying for?" he asked, when he saw the boy.
Tobias couldn’t even lift his head without crying anymore. He was just choking up, wiping his eyes on his forearm. “Y-Y-You can’t l-leave….” He stammered, standing up and legitimately approaching Rashi and hugging him. It didn’t matter how long he knew him for. He just wanted a friend…
Rashi melted, extremely glad the boy's emotions couldn't overwhelm him for once. Pulling him into a hug he attempted to comfort him. "Hey.. it's ok…"
His shoulders shook as he sobbed. “….I know i-it’s good f-f-for you to go h-home….” Tobias cried, “But…. I-I want you to stay!!!”
Megan thought she heard him yelling upstairs. “Ugh I don’t have time for this!” She growled angrily and drank the rest of her coffee. “I don’t care what you do, Tobias, but you have to go to school!! I’ll see you later!!!”
And she grabbed her stuff and left. I don’t mean to be impatient, but my paycheck gets cut for every minute I’m late… and I just can’t risk it if I have to support you and myself!!
"Hey it's gonna be ok" said Rashi trying to comfort him. "I know you want us to stay, but we can't…"
Tobias just hugged him tighter. "I can't…. Do it anymore!….." He cried. "I've realized what it means to have a f-friend…."
Firiko chirped.
"A person friend…." He rephrased.
Skye came into the room, "I'm sure you can make other friends," he said gently, knowing that Rashi was wishing his magic would work on the boy.
"Not as a freak, I'm not," Tobias frowned, still latched on. "Not with my green eyes, my freakish ability to survive getting run over a car….."
"Hey." Skye and Rashi spoke simultaneously.
"Look, everyone's different in their own way. And those are the things that make you special." Said Skye,
"And just cause people treat you differently doesn't mean you're not important. They just can't take seeing how obviously special you are, that they hurt you to try and make themselves feel even more special." said Rashi.
"I know…." Tobias sighed, still sore in his throat. "But they just think I'm too quirky to be special to them…." He frowned. "They just don't know me well enough to…. Bs friends with me…. And my socialising…. Isn't…. Good enough…."
"Then you need to practice more" said Skye gently. "But wither way you have to get going or you'll be late"
