Archive of Our Own ^beta

Alicia sat by his bedside, her fingers twitching to fix his comforter for the fifth time that day. She stared longingly at his face, hoping- praying his eyes would flutter open and would hit her back with one of his sly looks that made her know he was up to no good. She bit her lip, feeling a stinging sensation in her eyes. Her bottom lip shook as did her whole body as she so desperately tried swallowing down the dam she swore not to let break.

She exhaled a shaky breath, feeling light tremors run through her body. “We took our exams today,” as always, nobody answered. “You would’ve aced it, with all the studying we did,” she chuckled softly, smiling at the memory. The accidental study group, the video games in between, the laughter, the fun. “Could we…hang some time…when you wake up?” She offered the unconscious boy a half smile, one she wished he would return with his own full one. “I really enjoyed it.”

Her brows furrowed, her hands coming to grasp at her knees tightly. “Viktor’s worried,” she confessed, guilt already pooling in her senses. “I couldn’t tell him the truth- I couldn’t tell him a lie either. I just couldn’t.”

Her nails dug into the fiber of her suit, she winced slightly. Her eyes trained back to him, like it always did.

“I miss you,” she confessed.  

Her form hunched over his bedside, hands coming to grasp his own. She held his it gently, cocooning his hand in hers. “Please,” she begged, head dipped down in the mattress. “Please wake up,” she sniffed, biting her lip until she could taste blood. She’s never felt so desperate before.

“Don’t you wanna go on missions together?” When had things started to become so… complicated. Just months ago it had been their little group- her, Ali, Agent Bakar and Comot, taking down enemies and completing missions.

She was met with silence and that ached her more than any snarky,  rude response he could ever come up with.

Then there was beep. And another one.

Her head jerked up, feeling the way his own hand twitched against hers. His eyes were halfway open before she pushed her seat aside and ran towards the exit.

“Agent Bakar!” she cried, running past dozens of confused agents. “He’s waking up!”

Immediately, the kombat agent was on his feet.  His eyebrows rose, not quite comprehending until his face broke into a smile.

Most onlookers smiled, very much aware of the junior agent, who had once wielded I.R.I.S. then now S.A.T.R.I.A who had been strapped to a machine and rotting in the med-bay for a week. Some even cheered.

Alicia felt elated.

When they reached the med-bay, Alicia was surprised to see not only her father but her uncles, already waiting. She smiled brightly at them, she knew her uncles had grown a soft spot for Ali, ever since he became a regular at the restaurant and would occasionally help with orders. Alicia could tell that even her own father, whether he’d admit it or not, shared the same sentiment.

Agent Bakar rushed past her and towards his nephew, engulfing him in a tight embrace. She smiled, feeling the ache in her chest lighten.

But Ali did not smile, she realized. Nor did he return the hug.

She shook her head. He must still be out of it, she thought. It’s been a week, surely being back must have taken a toll on him. She moved to his side as agent Bakar came to a stand, turning to agent Geetha for the medical reports.

She brought her fist to the air, smiling brightly. “Good to have you back, ejen.”

She waited a second, then two.

She raised her eyebrows, fist still held up in the air, waiting to collide with his. He only stared back her, confused.

“Ali?” she called, voice nervous. Noting how he didn’t even respond to his own name.

Her heart sank, the familiar sense of anxiety coming back. Something was wrong.

She turned to agent Bakar, searching for answers. All he gave her, was a solemn look.

She turned back to Ali, who brought a hand to his head, blinking rapidly. He opened his mouth. “Who…Who are you guys?”

She stood abruptly, the chair behind her now in contact with the cold tiles. She took a step back- once, twice. “No…” she whispered, the familiar burning in her eyes coming back. Her bottom lip trembled as she pressed her lips into a thin line. “No, please,” she said much louder, shaking her head.

“Ali, do you remember…anything?” came agent Geetha’s soft approach, tablet in hand.

His eyebrows furrowed, eyes rapidly scanning the room, scanning the multiple faces who’d rushed to see him. He didn’t look twice at her.

“No… I- I don’t,” he said slowly, licking his lips. “I don’t remember anything…Why don’t I remember anything?!” the monitor to his right beeped rapidly, a response to his panic. Agent Bakar was at his side, gripping the boy’s shoulders while she stood- completely frozen in place.

“Ali, breath,” the senior’s voice said gently, coming to rub circles at his back.

“I- I can’t,” the boy panted, hands gripping at his hair. It pained Alicia to watch.  

Hot streaks of tears ran down her face, the one’s she had desperately tried to swallow for the past week. She rubbed at her eyes furiously, blinking away her blurry vision.

The monitor beeped furiously as agent Bakar was now pining the younger down, the boy clawing at his skin.

“We need to sedate him!” agent Geetha yelled, searching through the drawers.

Her uncles raced past her, each of them holding a limb down while her father joined in search for the sedative.

Suddenly, everything was too much.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, before bolting out. The last thing she heard was Ali’s painful scream before she was out of ears reach.