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 Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2017 3:41 pm
(takes place after The Gauntlet)Akio Yoshida had not slept well in days.
It was hard to think, it was hard to teach, it was hard to do anything that was remotely productive because at least one point in every passing hour of every passing day involved thinking about the one woman he cared about in the world, aside from his mother. The one woman he cared about that no one could seem to find.
Her lack of texting hadn’t been unusual, especially considering how down she’d seemed, even going so far as to call him over for a night of cuddling and quiet holding. He hadn’t asked questions. Maybe he should have.
Days had passed and with no response, he’d made the bold decision to try to check in on her, himself. What he’d found was a very angry Mr. Willows who’d revealed that he too hadn’t seen his daughter in some time, resulting in some very terrifying conversations that eventually led to a mutual sobriety over the fact that no one knew where Aurora was.
Taking a deep breath, he stared at the phone that had remained silent for too long, the urge to send her just one more text almost overwhelming. Stopping himself, the young man moved to set the device down on the carbon copy of the Missing Person’s report he’d filled out two days prior. The police station had seemed swamped with the number of vanishing citizens (apparently) but some overworked officer had taken the time to write down the details for Akio’s request.
He’d taken some time off from work, he’d checked in at the coffee shop, the park… anywhere he could think to look. And still, no Aurora.
God… what had happened to his girlfriend?
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Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2017 3:43 pm
She was absolutely, utterly exhausted.
Her ankle was swollen and likely sprained, so badly in fact that by the time she had managed to find a safe place to power down she had to pull her boot off. Then, it had seemed ridiculous that she was wearing one and not wearing the other so both came off and were now dangling in the drooping hand while she tried to limp her way home.
At some point she had to stop, finding a bench to sit down so she could wish that she’d had the foresight to teleport closer to home. Utterly miserable, she drew her legs up onto the bench with her, boots neatly set to her side and she fished around for her phone.
Rory prayed that it had battery.
She didn’t know how long she’d been gone.
To her relief, her phone had at least thirty percent and she was relieved...until she saw over a week’s worth of worried texts and missed phone calls. Oh no. With her heart thumping anxiously in her chest her thumb tapped the Missed call from Fairytale Prince notification.
Ringing occurred almost immediately and she brought her phone up to her ear and thumb to her mouth where she began to gnaw at the nail bed nervously.
“Pick up, pick up.”
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Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2017 3:44 pm
He'd managed to convince himself to shower and was in the process of disrobing when the phone started ringing from the other room. It was probably yet another coworker with good intentions of trying to check up on him but with each curious call, each pressing text he found himself growing more and more agitated. The call was never who he was praying it was and he hated the cold way he snapped at his friends as a result.
He knew he should be grateful. He knew he should be cordial. It was difficult being either, when the sunshine of his world had gone missing.
The phone rang once. Twice.
He hesitated. He should just let it go to voicemail. He shouldn't keep getting his hopes.
But still…
Throwing his towel over his shoulder, he jogged his way into the bedroom, picking up the phone on the third ring and sliding it open. There wasn't enough time to catch the caller ID but he suspected the principal was calling again, having voiced his concerns shortly before Akio took his leave.
“This is Akio.”
When had his voice grown so tired?
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Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2017 3:44 pm
Rory didn’t know what she would have done if his voice hadn’t come across the receiver.
Part of the teen worried that this was it, that she had been flaky for too long and too hot and cold for the sweet and ever patient man who wanted to be her boyfriend. Another worried about how Pops must have been feeling and she nearly hung up when she thought about how she should have called him first. She nearly did before she heard the tired voice of arguably one of the most important people in her world.
This is Akio
“Oh thank heavens,” she gasped, suddenly overwhelmed at the sound of his voice. “A-akio?” Her voice cracked and she inhaled shakily. “H-hi, it’s, um,” she paused to swallow, one of her small hands pressed over her mouth because she felt like crying. “R-Rory. I’m...I’m sorry.”
Sorry that she was bad at texting. Sorry that she wasn’t exactly a good girlfriend. Sorry that she’d been missing. Sorry if she made him worry. Just sorry.
“I-” She hiccuped and felt wetness on her cheeks. Oh no. No, no, no. She wasn’t supposed to cry. “I twisted my ankle a-and--- “ A shaky breath. “Please come get me.”
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Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2017 3:46 pm
Time stopped.
He heard his name echoed through the earpiece and the familiar, soft voice had him jerking his hand down to stare at the caller ID. Dragon Princess came across the screen and for a brief, brief moment, Akio felt lightheaded enough that he might risk losing his balance.
Free hand flew down to grip the side of his dresser as the small voice on the other side of the phone seemed to break up. Static crackled - or was it tears? He knew that stutter, that fierce little voice that tried to put on a facade when she was tearing up. Was she crying? Was his beautiful girl crying, wherever she was?
Closing his eyes, he tried to focus on the facts and not jump to conclusions. She was able to call him and it was from her own cell phone. Ankle twisted or not, she was alive.
Aurora was alive. And that was all that mattered.
His tongue snaked out and wetted his lips. The voice he’d hardly used over the last few days was eluding him, the young man forcing a cough out to encourage its reappearance.
“Aurora?”
Oh god, she was upset. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out - what kind of boyfriend would he be if he didn’t pick up that note in her voice? Hell, what kind of boyfriend was he for not even knowing where his girlfriend was?
Automatically, hands dropped down to the dresser and yanked it open, cell phone cradled in the crook of his neck as he grabbed the first shirt he could find. Aurora needed him and he wasn’t going to waste any time.
Trying to keep his voice calm as best as possible, he asked slowly, “Where are you, beautiful?”
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Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2017 3:46 pm
The longer he was silent, the more anxiety had begun to well up in Rory. She couldn’t stop the sudden blast of questions her thoughts gave her and she could feel herself crying harder.
What if he didn’t want to see her? What if he was done, with her, them, their relationship? What if---
Akio was saying her name and she felt relief crashing through her hard enough to make her sag against the bench. “Y-yeah,” she replied with a shaky voice. “I don’t--” She cut herself off, furiously rubbing at her eyes and cheeks to push away the tears. “It looks like...somewhere downtown?” She had to squint at the nearest street sign that she still couldn’t read.
“H-hold on.”
She forced her body to uncurl, bare feet tentatively stepping on the concrete as she tried to make herself tand. Her ankle throbbed in protest and her hand wasn’t quick enough to cover her mouth and muffle the sound of her whimper.
Rory forced herself to limp forward.
“62 and Jefferson Street.” She said, as clear as she could muster before hobbling, and whimpering, back to her bench when she once against curled into herself.
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Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2017 3:47 pm
Okay, okay. Downtown - that wasn’t too far from the university, which meant it wouldn’t be too terribly far from where his apartment was.
Every whimper, every quiver in her voice was like a knife in his heart. She was hurting and upset and obviously had found herself in trouble that he hadn’t been able to keep her out of.
Shoes were slipped on - it didn’t matter that his shirt didn’t match his pants or that his hair looked questionably bedhead-like - and he was out the door, keys in hand with his wallet being shoved down his back pocket. Akio couldn’t even remember if he’d locked his apartment up. Akio didn’t care if he’d locked his apartment up.
The only thing he cared about right now was how fast he could get to Aurora Willows.
Elevator was bypassed, the young man nearly tripping his way down the long stairwell in an attempt to hasten his speed. His breathing was labored, forgetting for a moment that he still clung to the phone like a lifeline, as if dropping the call would drop her from his world.
For all Akio knew, it very well could mean that.
“62 and Jefferson Street, 62 and Jefferson Street.” He repeated the address over and over again, imbedding it to memory. As sensible as it would be to find a bus, he couldn’t wait. Keys to the moped were tossed into the ignition and it was then that Akio realized he would have to hang up the phone to drive. s**t.
“Baby, I need both hands to drive so I’m going to have to hang up,” Akio was wincing internally. He didn’t want to hang up, he didn’t want to lose her, now that he’d finally found her again, “Please stay there. I’m coming, sweetheart, I’m coming for you.”
Closing the phone, he pocketed it and tossed on his helmet, kicked up his stand and peeled his way out of the apartment complex’s parking lot.
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Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2017 3:48 pm
In the background of his breathing, Rory could hear him scrambling to do things; put on shoes or a shirt whatever and she suddenly felt guilty as she realized she was causing more panic within the wonderful man who loved her. At one point she had opened her mouth to tell him nevermind, she could call her dad.
But he was already mounting his moped and she knew she couldn’t.
“Okay, I lov--” The line went dead before she could finish her sentence and she sighed. It was probably for the best, maybe it was just stress that was making her think of saying things like that. Instead, she pocketed her phone and curled into herself on the bench waiting for her boyfriend to come to her rescue her like that fairytale prince she knew he was.
“Please hurry,” she mumbled, to no one.
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Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2017 3:48 pm
It was a wonder how he didn't wreck his bike on the way there. At the very least, an officer of the law should have caught him for his reckless driving but as luck would have it, neither happened to Akio by the time he reached the street in question.
Eyes had been scouring the sidewalks as he drove and when he saw the familiar turquoise color, he swerved onto the sidewalk and slammed on his breaks, nearly launching himself forward.
“Au-Aurora!”
His leg caught itself on the side of his bike as he scrambled to dismount, stumbling his way towards the bench about as gracefully as a newborn calf. This wasn't Akio’s normal style. There was nothing relaxed about his frantic clamoring, no suave expression to mask the concern stretched across his tired face.
The helmet fell and rolled to the side, a forgotten casualty on his way to the one person who could restore order back to the chaos that had devoured his world.
Trembling hands immediately swooped down to grab for her, as if he was scared she'd float away if not tethered to him.
“Aurora, oh my god.” Fingers hastily buried themselves into her hair as he clutched her tightly. “Baby, are you okay?”
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Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2017 3:53 pm
Her name had her jerking her head up, sniffling as she tried to wipe her face. Before her she could see his panicked expression and she nearly flinched at the sight. Rory ended up curling more into herself, face buried into her arms so she didn’t have to watch him as he stumbled and scrambled over to her.
Akio was in her space, calling her name and wrapping his arms around her and she uncurled, latching onto him with the same desperation he was clinging to her with.
“Akio--” Her voice caught in her throat when a sob overtook her body. Her face was pressed against his shirt and she tried not shake too much from relief. “I’m...better.” She didn’t know if she was okay because she didn’t know how long she had been gone and what that meant. “I’m better because y-you’re h-here.”
That was the absolute, undeniable truth of the matter. She had been hurt and miserable and only started to feel better now that she had her boyfriend with her.
“I want to go home.”
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Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2017 3:54 pm
“Of course, baby, of course.”
Moving to sit down beside her on the bench, he gathered his girlfriend in his arms and cradled her gently against his chest. One hand remained in her hair, doing his best to keep his own fingers from trembling as he combed them through her hair.
Aurora looked beat up - something had happened. He had half a mind to ask her what, half a mind to insist they visit an urgent clinic and half a mind to simply sit there and stroke her head as if she were a fragile doll until emotions calmed down and he was able to think properly.
But she wanted to go home. He knew she needed to go home, that her father would be anxiously waiting for her return. As much as he wanted to sweep her away and tend to her wounds in his own apartment, Akio could at least recognize that the most comforting spot for her right now was in her own apartment, in her own bed.
Nudging her off from his chest, just enough to where he could find her swollen, puffy eyes with his own, he bent down to press a soft, almost desperate kiss against her lips. Despite the circumstances, there was no greater relief for Akio than to feel his Aurora in his arms once more.
Quietly, he prodded, “Are you going to be able to ride home with me, beautiful? Should I call us a taxi?”
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Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2017 3:54 pm
It was so easy to curl up against the larger frame of her boyfriend’s. Fingers grasped at the front of his shirt and she pressed her face against his chest as she struggled to withhold her sobs. The reality was that she was fine. Yes, her ankle was swollen and she looked worse for wear but when it came down to it she was and would be fine but she could see how terrified he was and knowing that she was the source of such emotion was going to overwhelm her.
“I’m-- I’m so---” Her apology was swallowed by his kiss. She pushed back into it, heart hammering into her chest with relief. Akio still loved her, one hundred percent and she felt ridiculous for even worrying that he wouldn’t.
“I-- I can’t get on myself, walking...walking hurts, but I think so?” Once she was on his scooter it wouldn’t be difficult but getting off after…No, she would manage. “We don’t need a taxi, I’ll manage.”
She could handle it, she knew she could. Pulling him in for another kiss she whispered, “Thank you for coming to get me.”
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Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2017 3:55 pm
He didn’t resist as she pulled him down, returning the affection as lips lingered against lips. Akio didn’t push to deepen the kiss, relaxing and finding his comfort in her touch alone - she was back. His Aurora was back and, relatively, she was okay.
“I’ll always be here for you, beautiful.” As the kiss finished, he moved to press a final one against her forehead before slowly, carefully rising from the bench, girlfriend in hand. Blessedly, she was small and easy to carry, the young man only allowing her down to assist the injured woman onto his bike. Retrieving his helmet, he sternly insisted she put it on - there wasn’t a way under the golden sun that he was going to risk her health - before mounting the moped and getting them on their way.
A hand would drift down every now and again to ensure her grip was firm around him. He drove slowly, taking their time as he tried to focus on getting them home and not what injuries she could have sustained… well, wherever she had been.
It took close to fifteen minutes before they made it to her apartment complex. Akio debated parking around the side just in case the intimidating Mr. Willows was around, but Aurora’s health was more important than him finding himself in an awkward situation. So up front they went, parallel parking between two small cars and he was off the bike, fingers hastily working to help remove the helmet before lifting her up and making his way up the stairs.
They were a hot mess - her in her bruised and swollen state, his in his mismatched, hair now blown in every direction look - but Akio couldn’t have been happier. She was back and he didn’t have to worry - well, much.
Quietly he leaned down, unable to resist pressing a kiss against her temple. “Do you have your key, still?”
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Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2017 3:55 pm
Perpetually Aurora Willows was marveled by the amount of love her boyfriend carried for her. Everything about this moment was terrifying and strangely calming at the same time. Akio carried her carefully and he put her safety first, both with the helmet and how he drove and when they had reached her complex, he had carried her to the door.
“Y-yeah.” She stuttered, fumbling with the pockets of her dress until she produced her keys. “You can put me down.” She mumbled, squirming until he did just that. Still, she held onto him for support as shaky hands put the key in the lock and opened the door. Back into her pocket it went and she turned her gaze to her incredible boyfriend.
“Will you…” She hesitated, worried about how her father would surely be upset when he got home that Akio was in her bed again but...She couldn’t be alone. Not tonight. Pops would understand. “Please stay the night.”
Small hands curled into the front of his shirt and she leaned her weight into him. “I don’t-- please don’t leave me alone.”
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Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2017 3:56 pm
It was hard to let her go, especially now that he’d just gotten her back. Still, a request from his princess was a request, so he set her down gently and kept his hands protectively at her sides while she fumbled with the doorknob.
The apartment looked dark, void of any sign of his girlfriend’s father. Probably gone to work - Akio had contemplated going back, himself, in an attempt to distract himself from his grief but he clearly lacked the ability to focus, as Willows did. It was a wonder how the burly man hadn’t beaten the absolute snot out of the young man when Akio had come around initially in search of the missing Aurora.
“You should probably text him, if you haven’t,” he mused idly, even though the thought of the large man racing home to see his newly found daughter had worry nestling between his own exhausted bones.
When she made the request for him to stay, the older boy’s hands tightened around his girlfriend’s waist. The exhale that came with him stepping inside the apartment after her was nothing more than relieved - he hadn’t wanted her to leave his sights, not when she’d only resurfaced less than an hour ago. If Akio Yoshida had his way, Aurora wouldn’t be leaving his sights for the next month.
… but he’d take it one night at a time, as he was fairly certain any more than one evening would really have the older Willows out for his head.
“Of course, beautiful. I wouldn’t dream of letting you go anytime soon.”
As if to prove his point, he ushered her fully inside the apartment before turning and sliding the lock into place. A swift pluck up of her small form had the teenager once again pressing against his chest as he took the first two steps up the staircase before he paused.
“Need anything from down here, before we get you to bed? Food? Medicine? Want me to find one of your cats?”
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