ᴴᵉʸ ᵈᵘᵈᵉ, ᶜˡⁱᵈᵉ
Cₗᵢdₑ wₐₖₑ ᵤₚ
Man?
– @kymenian-slimecicle
"Hhuh.? W hat..?"
[Clide took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes weakly before putting them back on, looking above him. Upon seeing another person standing there, he groaned and rolled back over.]
"Ugh... if you're here to help me or something, don't bother, yeah? Just... just leave me alone."
[He looks noticeably thinner, paler and a lot more roughed up than before.]
Dude! WHAT are you doing!? Why are you sleeping here? You look terrible! [Ky (who is already crouched) tries to pull up Clide by the arms until he's sitting. Ky's visibly worried]
Are you okay?? You definitely don't LOOK okay-
"Hey! Don't... No... L-leave..."
[Clide tries to object to being helped, but he's so weak that it's hard to summon the energy to struggle. He groans quietly, then closes his eyes and lets out a barely audible sob.]
"I don't... have anywhere else. I can't... go back."
['Kay, Ky is even MORE worried now. He kneels on the ground next to Clide, sitting on his heels, reaching his backpack and searching for his packed lunch, and a water bottle]
Man, please take this, I- Dear god- [He opens the package (which comes with a spoon) and the bottle then hands Clide both of them]
[Clide stares between Ky and the items in his hands, conflicted between not wanting help and being really, unbearably fucking hungry and thirsty. He stares blankly for a while before hesitantly taking the food and water and consuming it, getting food all over his face and water running down his chin. He wipes his face with the back of his hand and looks away, not wanting to make eye contact.]
"...Thank you."
[The words are sincere, but they come out with something that sounds almost like resentment.]
What are you doing here...? Where did you come from? Do you need me to take you somewhere? Like, an ER or... [Ky takes the plastic back into his bag then puts his hands in his pockets]
[Clide tiredly shook his head.]
"Look, I... I'm here because I don't have a place to live otherwise. And I don't know anyone well enough to just... live with them. And I have a really bad feeling about the nearby hospital, so..."
[He looks at Ky again and remembers something.]
"Oh, by the way, I found Fluid. He's staying at someone's place who's name was like. Hetero? Or something? I think. It was over that way." [He points.]
"So if you wanna see him, then uh... yeah. He's super tired and out of it though."
Oh, thank god, I was so worried about th-
... Alright, thank you. Are they okay? I lost contact with him a few months ago, I wasn't sure of what happened...
[Ky looks genuinely relieved fluidwise, but he wasn't sure if he could leave Clide here... Maybe fluid could wait]
"Yeah, me neither. He couldn't tell me when I tried to ask. I assume it was something pretty bad though... they seemed really banged up. But anyway, uh, thank you again for the food and everything. Really. But you should probably get going now."
[Ky looks around, pondering]
"... No dude, I'm not leaving you here. I'll... I'll stay, I don't trust you'll be fine if I go"
"If Fluid is at someone else's house, they'll be fine. I'm sorry but I cannot leave"
"...What? No, I mean it, get out of here. There's no reason for you to be here. Besides, it's not-"
[Clide goes silent and stares in another direction. He's completely frozen, and his hands start to shake. Then he suddenly stands up, grabbing Ky's wrist and running in the other direction.]
WhOA-!
[Ky stumbles but saves it, keeping pace with Clide. His confusion ends up overpowering his worry]
Where are we going!? What's happening? We-
[Ky looks around, looking for a hint. The feeling of his wrist being held starts becoming unconfortable, but he lets it slide, distracted by a thin branch hitting his face]
Ouch-!
[Clide doesn't even notice that the branch hit Ky as he continues to run until they were a good distance away. He keeps his grip on Ky's wrist as he looks around cautiously, then slowly drops it.]
"There was a bear. Sorry I didn't say anything first. Anyway you should... still probably..."
[Clide's eyelids flutter and he sways in place before falling on his ass in the dirt, weak from running. He scoffs under his breath, annoyed with himself.]
[Ky pants, hands on knees, torso and head bent over] "Hahh, damn... hh..." [He gasps, rubbing the area on his face that that branch hit] "I really gotta (hhh) get back into sports."
"Okay, how about we get outta the woods, and... Fuck, I don't even know around-" [Hetero chuckled akwardly] "Would you mind accompanying me to where Fluid is at? Or, well, taking me there- Just to check in on them..."
"Yeah, I can... take you there... sure."
[Clide wobbles like a newborn deer as he stands up, panting and mumbling incoherently to himself as he waves for Ky to follow him.]
[An hour or so later, they get to Hetero's house, and Clide gestures to it vaguely before turning around and starting to just walk away.]
[Ky knocks at the door, receiving no answer. He fails opening it, starting to pace, then resorting to looking through a window to catch Fluid sleeping on the couch. He sighs, turning around, and he sees Clide walk away]
[He runs up to Clide nervously, putting a hand oh his shoulder behind his back]
No, I can't let you leave, I'm sorry
[Clide stops for only a moment to look over his shoulder, his expression confused and angry, before shaking Ky's hand off his shoulder and continuing to walk away.]
[Ky groans, getting annoyed but not any less concerned]
Okay, fine! You can walk away, just-
Please take my phone number...?
[He takes a pen and notebook from his pocket, quickly writing down his number and tearing out the page]
If you need anything, just call me from your own phone or maybe someone else's, or a phone booth... Please, Clide? I'll be there.
[Clide stops and turns to face Ky slowly. He looks like he's on the verge of blowing up at him, like he's gonna start screaming any second, but then it looks like something comes over him. He sighs, looking between Ky and the paper in his hand before taking it and pocketing it.]
"...Fine. I'll see you."
[Then he walks away once more, but seemingly more hesitantly this time. His legs wobble a little as he leaves.]
