Speedster In The Medical Ward

Riley was woken up when the medical staff took him off the transport “Am i dead?” He asked in a delirious tone.

“No,” Loreen almost growled at him. “We're in the Underground…”

“But there's an angel holding my hand” he replied with a tired grin as they brought him into a room to rest while the doctors looked over him.

“I’m not an angel, you brat.” Loreen said, pinching his hand.

“You are to me” he whispered “you kept me going.”

“Just focus on healing,” Loreen told him.

“You should rest too.” he yawned, scooting over in the bed to make some room for her. With a light blush he gestured for her to join him.

“I will rest when I need it.” Loreen retorted, not ready to lie down just yet. She was too wired at the moment to even stand still. “I have others to tend to, sadly.”

Riley looked a bit sad at the answer; it was obvious he didn't want to be alone.

“I hate it too…” She whispered as Shiro was wheeled into the room and set up on a bed close to Riley’s. “Why don’t you two get to know each other?” She suggested as she got up, sighing heavily. In all honesty, she didn’t want to leave Riley, but she had a duty as a medic.

Riley watched her go feeling anxious as the door closed. He was still expecting Thrane or coral at any moment to burst in for experiments or “fun”. Pulling his knees to his chest he tried not to scratch at his arms.

Shiro slowly sat up and stared at Riley. “Why did you help me? I'm basically Thrane’s child.” He said after a long moment of silence.

“Because you're not him” he replied still hugging his knees “I'm not going to punish you for being his kid.” Sitting there he thought about Coral and his child growing inside her.

“I’m not his kid,” Shiro snapped. “I’m just made from his DNA. A carbon copy born from a tank. I’m expendable and worthless for not having his hatred for the world.” If he knew about Riley’s worries, he would tell him that whore was a liar. She was never pregnant in the first place.

“Exactly you're your own person” Riley replied “you deserve a chance to be whoever you want to be.”

“I don't know who I want to be…” Shiro admitted. “I've been forced to be so…dead inside.”

“Now you have a chance to find out” he assured with a smile on his face.

“Easier said than done,” Shiro reminded him as he gazed at the wall.

Riley nodded and wrapped a blanket around himself “none of this feels real” he sighed looking at the door wishing Loreen would return.

“It’s real,” Shiro said when they suddenly heard Loreen scream.

“SNAKE!” She yelped.

Shiro sighed. “Looks like Slither is at it again.”