Fast Food Madness: The Epic Return

The next thing Sora was aware of was a thickening thud and the sound of bone crunching. That, and the extreme pain. He had landed on his left side, and it felt as if every bone on that side was shattered. That probably wasn't the reality, but that's how badly it hurt. A groan left his lips, as one of the Keyblades disappeared off the ground about five feet away. This was a bad sign, because that was something he subconsciously did when he was about to lose his grip on reality.

 

Riku instantly ran to the side, racing to reach Sora. It was his fault... He had done this... Riku saw a few rocks nearby and leaped down them skillfully to reach the bottom.

Roxas summoned his blades away immediately, following Riku's lead without much thought. He went down on the opposite side, not thinking before he jumped down the narrow ledge, sliding along loose rock until he finally landed on level ground. He turned his head to the left, seeing his friend on the ground only a few yards away. He started toward him, aware that Riku was running as well from the opposite side.

 

Sora rolled off the injured side, laying on his stomach. He was faintly aware that he hard the sound of feet coming towards him, but even more than that, he heard the soft pitter-patter of lion paws...surrounding him? And then low growls? They obviously weren't directed at him though. It only took him a moment to realize that the females believed Riku and Roxas deliberately hurt him.

 

Roxas skidded to a halt, crouched slightly with his hands out at his sides in caution. The lions... They were growling at him? Their cat eyes were angry slits as they glared at him, teeth bared. He briefly glanced at Riku to see that he was dealing with the same treatment on the other side of the circle of lions, who were surrounding Sora. "Easy..." he tried softly, speaking to the lions.

 

Sora looked up and saw Roxas first, noticing the treatment the lions were giving him. He brought his left hand to the ground and lifted himself up slightly, the movement causing him more pain. "The idiots are with me," he snapped, pain evident in his voice. He saw the leader of the group turn to face him, her expression softening.

 

Even though Riku heard what Sora called him, he didn't think too much of it, or really take it as an insult. He was too concerned for how his friend was doing. At least he was alive, Riku was thankful for that.

Roxas watched the lions with alert eyes, glancing at them after looking at Sora. His anger had mostly disappeared now, covered by the worry he was experiencing for Sora. He had heard the scream and the dull thud his body had made when it met the ground. It didn't sit well with him; it caused him pain.

 

Sora forced his eyes shut when he fell back down on his face, a grunt leaving him. The pain was so unbearable that he felt as if he just wanted to slip away into unconsciousness. But he knew that he wouldn't have much chance of waking up if he went under in such bad shape. Around him, the lions started moving to the sides, making way for Roxas and Riku.

 

Roxas took a few slow steps forward, cautious of the lionesses. But they let him move, so he quickly made his way over to Sora, reaching him just after Riku did. He knelt down next to him and lightly reached out a hand to set on his friend's back. "Sora?"

Riku whacked Roxas's hand away. "Don't touch him," he snapped darkly. "He's obviously hurt." He glared at Roxas before his eyes found Sora again, seeing that his best friend was lying on his stomach.

"Well, I can see that," Roxas retorted harshly. "You're the one who caused it." He met Riku's glare with one of his own, his hand in a tight fist as it rested on his knee. He wasn't going to be pushed around anymore by the older boy, even under these circumstances.

 

"Could you two stop fighting for more than one minute?!" Sora grumbled, starting to push himself up with a shaky hand. He had to get off his stomach...The dust was clouding his mind almost as much as the unbearable pain was.

 

Riku closed his mouth at Sora's words, glancing at him for a second. But he didn't fight giving Roxas another dark glare, which was equally returned. He was vaguely aware of his injuries in his sides and arms, but that was the least of his worries for right now.

Roxas flexed his jaw, his teeth ground together as he succumbed to the suggestion behind Sora's words. He let his eyes rest on his Somebody silently, wanting to help him get up, even though he seemed angry enough to handle it himself.

 

Sora caught a big whiff of the dust, the clouded air making him gasp involuntarily. He coughed and attempted to lower himself gently, but it still hurt like crazy when he landed on the injured side of his chest. He would have snapped at the guys again and asked for help, but he couldn't find words. In fact, he could hardly find the strength to stay conscious. He shut his eyes, his other Keyblade disappearing from seven feet away. He didn't consciously summon it away; it had vanished for the same reason as the other one. He was about to go under.

 

Roxas caught the Keyblade vanish behind Riku, and having been in enough fights with Sora recently, he knew what that meant. "Hey," he said, instantly reaching forward and setting his hands on Sora's shoulders to try and turn him over, so he could at least help him up. "Sora, stay with us," he demanded, his tone showing his seriousness.

Riku instantly reached forward as well to back Roxas up, his hands out in case the blond couldn't help Sora up on his own.

 

"Ah," Sora hissed at the pain, feeling Roxas grip his wounded shoulder. He didn't attempt to move, though--he really couldn't. The revival of the pain brought him out of his fading moment, a small amount of strength returning to him. Turn me over, he thought, unable to speak the words. He hoped that his friends would understand that the action was necessary, even if it did cause him pain.

 

Roxas ground his teeth together at Sora's sound of pain, but not in anger. He felt bad for accidentally hurting his best friend, but he continued to turn him over, nonetheless. With Riku's assistance, they successfully laid Sora on his back, Roxas catching sight of Sora's face for the first time. It appeared to be twisted in pain.

 

Sora exhaled his breath in the form of a sigh once he was done being moved. Surprisingly, the new position helped alleviate some of the pain. It was still horrible, but at least it felt like he wouldn't just pass out now. He opened his eyes after a moment, looking up at the sky. He caught onto both Riku's and Roxas' eyes, which were filled with concern. Good; better that than anger. At least one good thing came out of his pain.

 

Riku stayed knelt down on the dusty rock, peering at his friend. "You okay, man?" he asked Sora, concern evident in his voice, his anger gone for the time being. True, he still wanted to pummel Roxas, and he was sure that feeling was mutual; but now wasn't the time. Sora was in need of care now.

 

Sora looked more at Riku, his gaze turning into a weak glare. "Do I look okay?" he asked, some anger present in his voice. More than that, though, was the pain. His glare faded pretty quickly, the brunet too weak to hold that stare for too long.

 

Roxas blinked at Sora's tone, even if it wasn't directed at him. Regardless, he pulled a small vial of potion out of his pocket. He looked at it and then at Sora, before throwing it up in the air above the injured brunet. The small bottle magically shattered, the curing ingredients no doubt reaching Sora.

 

Sora shut his eyes tightly at another burst of pain, though that lasted for only a split second. He felt coolness and warmth going over his body at the same time, the horrific pain in his side turning to just throbbing. He released a breath in relief, his eyes opening partway as some of the pain subsided.

 

"It'll help a little, at least," Roxas said softly, his bright eyes on the identical pair in front of him. He glanced up briefly, seeing the tip of the outstretch of rock above them. His fists tightened at the height. Ouch. A big ouch. Roxas's eyes instantly rested on the ground, the boy scratching at his head.