Chapter Text
Cole didn't know where he was. He felt someone dragging him somewhere but he didn't have it in himself to care.
He didn't even know who was dragging him. He should probably care about that, in case he was being kidnapped.
But he was just so tired. Every breath took a tremendous amount of effort from him.
Cole tried to open his eyes.
Tried.
He tried again.
This time, he succeeded. Yet only for a short moment, seeing the whole world blurred.
His head spun. He closed his eyes in an attempt to make it better. He wasn't sure if it did.
They were still walking.
At some point, he started gagging. He wasn't sure if he actually threw up.
But this person he was with. They made sure to slow down and lower him in case he did. He could feel them running soothing circles on his back.
They were safe. He could feel it.
They were talking.
He couldn't figure out what they were talking about. He could barely even hear them. But something in that voice felt familiar.
He felt a bit of the tension in his body leave him.
After a moment, he was picked up from the ground. They were leading him somewhere.
He felt them lower him down on the ground again. He felt them making him lie down. Not on his back, but on his side. Probably in case he would throw up.
He opened his eyes, hoping that maybe this time he'll see better.
He regretted that decision immediately. His world spun around in the blurriness. He started gagging and before he knew it, a hand was stabilising him.
“Hey…it's okay bud” the person said “I'm here with you” so gently
They took one of his hands into their own. He tried squeezing it. They squeezed back.
That voice. That hand.
Jay.
He felt the last bit of tension leave him as he fell asleep.
Cole was falling.
Again.
How many times has he fallen in his life already?
Too much. Way too much.
He doesn't even want to count.
Cole failed his team.
Again.
Just how many times he failed them?
Did he even do anything right? Or did he always fail them?
He was supposed to be the leader. The strong one. The rock, the foundation. The one they could always rely on. The one they could always trust, with anything. Even their life.
How could they do it if he didn't even trust himself?
A kid had to take on the role of a leader. Because of his incapability.
He felt a sharp pain in his chest. He put his hand on his heart.
His heart wasn't beating.
He started taking sharp breaths, not sure if they would help. Not sure if he was actually breathing.
He wasn't a ghost.
Not anymore.
So why couldn't he feel his own heart beating? Why couldn't he feel how he breathes?
Why could he only feel how he failed his team?
Cole felt the vomit at the back of his throat climbing up.
He could himself retch. Trying to catch his breath. It was sharp and sudden but quick. He probably didn't have anything in his stomach anymore.
He felt Jay's hands on his back and on his shoulder. After a moment, he put the hand that was holding Cole’s shoulder on his forehead.
It was like ice for his feverish body.
“Shit…” he heard him curse “I’ll bring you some water”
With that, Jay left. Suddenly, he felt so much heavier. The familiar presence, the familiar touch. Gone. Just like that.
Without anything keeping him on his side, he slipped onto his back. Keeping himself in one position was so, so tiring.
Keeping himself awake enough to not cause Jay even more trouble was so much harder.
He felt Jay's arms wrap around him and pull him up slightly.
He opened his eyes for a moment to see a flash of a…canteen? Under his mouth, before quickly closing them.
Water felt heavenly in his mouth.
He could drink everything that was left.
“Slow down or you're gonna choke” Jay warned him
Before that warning reached his mind, he choked on water.
Jay quickly pulled it away, now helping him breath. Cole could almost swear he heard a faint ‘I told you’.
After a moment, his breathing is back to normal.
However, his brain doesn't register words anymore. He hears that Jay's talking to him but doesn't know about what.
Then the talking stops and Cole hears him sigh. Without a warning, he's slowly pulling him away from when he was before.
It's not far, that much he knows.
He opens his eyes, trying to see how Jay's doing. He sees that he's looking at him. He can't see his expression though.
Jay is talking again. At least he thinks he is. He can't even see his mouth. Cole closes his eyes.
He feels Jay lowering him on the ground, muttering something. He directs Cole's hand onto the ground.
What?
Surely Jay knows that he's too weak to use his powers, right?
He directs Cole's other hand onto the ground.
He tries to focus on what Jay is saying. He can only make out one word from it.
Connect.
He isn't sure if can do it. But he needs to try.
And so he does.
He feels himself relax as the earth embraces him.
Darkness.
He's not falling anymore.
He's embraced by a cocoon of some sorts.
There's light.
He sees people.
Rocky, or Ultra Dragon more like.
But there's something wrong with them.
He sees his mother. And…Mystake?
Both of them are dead.
But Ultra Dragon should be free, right?
There's no way he's dead.
He can't be.
Cole feels the tears on his cheeks. It was just a dream. A nightmare. It wasn't real. Ultra Dragon is safe. He's okay.
Or at least he thinks so.
He opens his eyes, ready to see his world blurred. To his surprise, it's not as blurry as it was before.
He slowly moves his head, tries to look around and figure out where exactly Jay led them.
It was dark.
He sees an outline of…campfire? That's not burning anymore.
He sees Jay's silhouette kneeling close to him. His hands are on his face. Is he injured? But his body is shaking.
He's crying. He’s moving his mouth.
Cole focuses, trying to hear what Jay's saying.
He hears rain. Then he hears Jay's sobs. And then finally, his words.
They were so quiet.
They were so broken.
“My best friend is dying and I don't know how to help.”