Not like you

A companion piece to "Say something", set nearly a week later. Enjoy!

Acorn stared at Shiro, worried.  He looked tired. He was fixing a broken bike-one of the extras- and seemed very intent on his work, although he’d been working on it for hours with very little accomplished.  Shifting the tray of food in her grip slightly, she stepped into the workshop, clearing her throat to get her boss’s attention.

“Yes?” Shiro replied, not looking up. Acorn set the tray beside him on a workbench, picking up the neglected one she had brought him for lunch.

“I fixed you dinner… it’s macaroni. Your favorite.” The teen didn’t reply, tightening a bolt for the fifth time. “Shiro, please eat something. You’re going to starve if you don’t eat and stop thinking about-“

“Don’t.” He interrupted, setting the wrench down carefully. “I’m not hungry.”

“Shiro, you haven’t eaten hardly anything in days!”

“Yeah, well who cares? I’m still doing all of my duties as leader.” He resumed working, oiling a gear.

“You aren’t yourself, and you haven’t been since Lay-“

“I’m just tired.” He replied quickly, cutting her off again. He sighed and massaged his forehead, covering his ears and closing his mouth.  Acorn knelt beside her friend and covered his hands gently with her own. He had his eyes closed, but Acorn stared at them anyway.  He had dark circles under his eyes, and looked gaunt and paler than usual. Although he always appeared asleep when Acorn went in to check on him, she could tell he hadn’t been getting any rest.

Very softly, she snaked her hands under his, feeling his ears and hair. Then, with a force that surprised even her, she dragged Shiro’s hands to his sides and pinned them there.

“Listen to me Shiro.” The boy nodded but didn’t look up. “Listen. Layla is gone. She won’t be back for a long time.” Shiro made a soft sad noise, and for a moment she considered letting him go, but she’d gone too far to stop now. “You have been acting so tough and uncaring since I found you on that bench, but I’m your best friend Shiro. You don’t think I would have noticed that although you haven’t frowned, you haven’t smiled either? I’m not stupid. Why don’t you just cry like you want to?” Shiro’s eyes shot open and met hers. “I can read you better than you think I can, idiot. Besides, I miss her too…”

She felt her eyes fill with tears as he reached out for her like a child. She hugged him tightly. Although he hugged her back like she was an anchor, and his hands were shaking, he kept up his composure and pride stubbornly.

“You don’t have to be so strong now Shiro. Let me be that person for a while. Go ahead. I don’t mind.”

Shiro stiffened a moment and began shaking harder; crying silently but trying to be quiet although nobody would be able to hear him from the workshop anyway.

After a few minutes of that, Shiro returned to his normal self, and Acorn was able to persuade him to eat and sleep. He slept a good twenty-nine hours, nearly reaching thirty before waking up feeling better. When he woke, it was night again, and it seemed everyone was asleep. He slipped out of bed and into the hallway, not turning on any lights and following his memory to the room of the friend he had a hunch would still be awake.

Acorn was sewing when Shiro knocked softly on her door. She called out an invitation, and he came in a few moments later, looking sheepish. She didn’t comment as he approached her where she sat in her armchair, mending what looked like one of Cardinal’s old shirts.

“Acorn?” Shiro spoke finally.

“Yes, Shiro?”

“How long have I been asleep?”

“A day or two.”

“Ah.” Shiro sat down on the bed across from her and looked at his feet. They sat like this for a while, just enjoying each other’s presence and thinking. Then, Acorn finished sewing a final stitch, and set the shirt aside, looking over at her friend. He bit his lip, finally looking up.

“Thank you.” Acorn didn’t seem surprised. She just smiled and stood up, mussing his hair.

“I’m just glad you’re better silly. Now go on, go back to bed. I’ll wake you up in the morning and we can get back to work.” She held out a hand to Shiro and helped him up. She walked him to the door and they stood a moment before he hugged her tightly, muttering another thank you into her hair. She chuckled.

“Goodnight Shiro.”

“Goodnight Acorn.” And so he left.

-Kelsie