Broken Heart

Riley entered his room unable able to sit or calm down. Bleeding energy he hopped onto the Treadmill.

That was when River poked her head into the room. “Hi,” She said in a soft voice.

Riley stopped running and hopped off “Hi” he replied shyly realizing he left his shirt and hoodie with Loreen. “Sorry I should cover up.” he replied feeling nervous with his scars on display.

River couldn't help but enjoy the view and clasped her hands behind her back. “You look fine to me.” she said sweetly. Everything about Riley interested her, after all.

Riley blushed before grabbing a shirt and putting it on “Sorry I’m nervous Loreen and Alex are forcing me to talk to Klaire.”

“The dog eared woman?” River asked. “Oh, she's been so helpful since she arrived! She always went on infiltration missions to save you and that Tzeitel woman.”

Riley nodded looking at the photo of himself, Klaire, and Colt “Yeah she was one of my friends in there we were……close once” he whispered his hand twitching as Coral’s words echoed in his mind her mocking laugh torturing him. Reaching to the photo he set it facing down on the dresser.

River tilted her head in confusion just as there was a knock at the door.

Riley took a deep breath before exhaling as he walked over and opened the door.

Klaire stood on the other side, dog ears twitching. She noticed River and was about to speak, but the flower girl spoke first. “I’ll see you on the mission, Riley.” She said before slipping out so the pair could talk.

“See you” he whispered before nervously letting Klaire into the room and closing the door before sitting on his bed.

“So, you finally want to talk?” Klaire inquired, standing near the bed but not sitting.

“Loreen and Alex forced me said it was time” he admitted looking down at the floor “I know they're but doesn't make it any easier.”

“Why have you been avoiding me?” Klaire inquired.

Riley sighed wanting to give her any excuse but loving her too much he had to let her go. “Because seeing you hurts and it makes me hate myself for how I feel.”

“What do you mean?” Klaire looked perplexed, her ears falling back.

“Klaire I've loved you since the day I met you and Colt in Megacorp” Riley sighed tears falling from his eyes. “ You were the one light in that dark place and they knew. Coral, Thrane, the guards all they had to do was threaten you to get me to do whatever they wanted. For so long I held on to the hope breaking out with you and Colt, settle down, maybe raise a family and give you the life you deserve.” Clenching his fists he took a breath before continuing “but you never looked at me that way only James. Coral was the most cruel about that knew just how to break. Torture, rape, and experiments i could handle all of it but the thoughts of you and James together while I was in that hell…. I know he makes you happy and believe me I'm glad you have him and your kids because nobody deserves it more than you do but seeing you two in the life I dreamt of living with you for so long… it hurts and I hate myself for feeling this way.”

“You shouldn’t hate yourself for having your feelings, Riley. I made it clear to you how I felt, though. You are a brother to me, always will be.” Klaire admitted as she hugged herself. “I can’t help the way I feel, either. I loved James and that’s not changing. Ever.”

“But I do Klaire because I should be happy for you” he choked out “but seeing you together just hurts so damn much and …. You have your family just move on I'll only drag you down.”

“You're still my friend, Riley. Does it hurt so much that you can't be my friend? Can't be happy for me? I went from place to place trying to find you, trying to save you! James did the same! He was determined to save you because I see you as family.” She retorted.

Riley gripped his head in pain Coral's laughter echoing in his mind. Shutting his eyes he tried to drown it out.

“Riley?!” Klaire was by his side, a hand touching his shoulder. “Are you okay?”

“She's in my head” he whimpered as coral kept taunting how she was right about Klaire “I can still hear her laugh feel her touch.”

”She doesn't love you, Riley. She and James laugh behind your back.” Coral laughed cruelly.

“Who is?” Klaire asked with worry. “Should I call Dr. Chi?”

“You're lying coral” he whispered “she wouldn't do that” his body began to shake as his powers tried to speed up his mind to cope with the trauma.

Klaire froze at that name for a moment before going into action and grabbing Riley’s face. “Riley, look at me. Open your eyes and look at me.” She said in a serious tone, doing what she always did when they worked together in MegaCorp. “She's lying. She's always lied. She's a monster and you know it. Don't listen to her.”

Riley shook before calming down as the memory faded tears streaming down his face.

Klaire slowly pulled her hands away. “Riley?” She asked.

Riley moved away from her “Klaire please leave…… before I do something I can't take back.”

“I’m just trying to help you.” Klaire said, ears falling back with hurt. “You were hurting and I can’t stand seeing one of my best friend’s in pain.”

“I know I'm sorry…..” he whispered “I'm trying to get better, I want to get better so I can be a brother to you again…. But right now everything is screaming at me to kiss you and I don't want to hurt you or James….i need you to break my heart. ”

Klaire moved back, staring at him. “I’m with James, Riley. I told you that back when we were in MegaCorp…” She hated doing this, reminding him. Why couldn’t he just understand it back then? Even Colt had come to accept that Tzeitel was nothing more than a sister to him. He’d tried kissing her once, but it had turned out to make him feel…wrong. He admitted that to Tzeitel, too, so they pretended it never happened.

That was before Canestone, though.

Fucking Canestone.

The thought of him drew out her anger, so Klaire used that to turn and head for the door.

“Riley clutched his chest, feeling her words like knives stabbing him. Moving forward he hugged her “thank you…” he whispered “I'm broken right now.. but I'm getting better…when I am I'd like us to be a family again”

Klaire was silent as she let him hug her from behind, nodding slowly. She needed to go before the tears started to fall.

“I'm proud of you Klaire” he whispered “Alex tells me about Ami, Cody, and the twins you're a great mother” he let her go but not before sneaking the photo of her, Colt, and himself into one of her pockets.

“Thanks…” She said before leaving.

Once she was gone Riley collapsed to the floor curling up in a ball and clutching his chest as he experienced a broken heart for the first time.