Help That Speedster (Pt 1)

James made sure the door was closed and locked properly before he went over to Riley. He knew Loreen would take good care of Shiro, so he wanted to focus on his old friend. “Riley,” he said in a calm tone, crouching down near him. “Talk to me.”

Riley looked at him as Coral's words echoed in his mind “I'm fine” he lied trying to drown out her cruel laughter.

“You’re lying,” James said, easily able to tell. He’d said the same so many times to Klaire.

“Of course I’m fucking lying,” he sighed in an agitated tone “What do you want me to say that Thrane made our lives hell after you two escape? That he treated me like a fucking science experiment? That any moment of peace I had from that monster was filled with visits from Coral who tortured me mentally and physically?”

“You’re dealing with trauma, Riley.” James said as he sat down next to his friend with a heavy sigh. “Klaire and I have been seeing a doctor where we’re headed. Maybe he can help…it has helped Klaire a lot.”

“I don’t know what I need. Didn’t think I live long enough to escape,” he admitted keeping the fact of Coral’s pregnancy to himself not wanting to drag the others into it. “I just want peace.”

James set a hand on Riley’s shoulder. “We’ll get that peace…we just have to work through it one day at a time.”

Riley nodded as he continued to stare out of the window. He knew his journey wasn’t done yet but he didn’t want to bring the others into it. “One day….”

“We've been looking for you ever since we escaped, you know.” James admitted. “Klaire and I…we…we hated leaving you all behind, but we had no choice at the time. It was either escape or die. The Underground found us and has been helping us ever since.”

“I could have died happy knowing Klaire got out” he admitted “not that i don't appreciate everything you've done just never saw Thrane letting me go. Figured I'd die holding him off.”

“Well, you're free now…” James replied.

Riley nodded his eyes drifting over to Loreen.

Loreen, at this point, had Shiro sitting up and was getting him to drink some water. Nero was keeping close to his aunt, eating the limb of a soldier he’d nabbed up before they left. The brat…

“Nero seems calm for now.” James said, watching them.

“Loreen keeps him in check but he is also friendly” Riley replied “I often had to visit him.”

“Thrane made me visit a few times. Always when he was hungry…” James murmured.

Riley nodded reaching up to rub where the chip use to be in his neck.

“You got it out, right?” James asked, rubbing at his own neck. He remembered having one…it had been a bitch and a half to get it out, but they’d had Delilah’s best doctor available.

Riley nodded “the pain the buzzing it's gone…”

“You’ll get…used to it. It takes time.” James admitted. “But you’ll always remember it. I do…” He still remembered the cold chambers that Thrane would throw him in. That bastard had always been testing how much cold the pyro could handle.

Riley nodded before collapsing onto the floor from exhaustion. Looking closer it would be obvious to the Pyro how thinner Riley was since the last time he saw him.

“Loreen!” James called over as he caught Riley and slowly lowered him to the floor so he wouldn’t hurt his head. He didn’t miss how thin his friend was.

Loreen got Nero to help Shiro before she rushed over and looked over Riley. A frown was on her face as she let out a heavy sigh. “He needs to gain weight…” She whispered.

Alex came over with several iv bags “Delilah said she's worked with speedsters before these should help provide some nutrients for his healing factor until we get back to the Underground. I'm Alex by the way his cousin.” moving to the seats Riley was sitting on he folded them down into a bed.

With James’ help, Loreen helped Riley get more comfortable and started and IV up. “Lets get him started on it, then.” She explained and looked toward Alex. “I’m Loreen…”

James nodded toward them both and left to give them space.