[ at first, Riku isn't sure what to do when he can no longer feel the safe ground beneath him. he reflexively squirms, panicked, before just making sure that he stays still. the man who's scooped him up is strong and resourceful, he can tell that as he watches in horror.
he would've closed his eyes, he wanted to close his eyes against that kind of violence, but it was too terrifying and quick-paced to not watch with big, round eyes.
and there, he's not sure when he started shaking like a leaf. maybe it was when he saw the man (the one he was very sure was calling to him, beckoning him closer just seconds before) rush towards Connor with murderous intent, or maybe it was when the other man was shot to death by his comrades, he isn't sure. maybe it was both and he was shaking from sheer overwhelming fear and the sound of being half-deaf thanks to so many guns going off so near him.
whichever it is, it's very clear in Riku's head even as Connor sets him down, his chest rising and falling quickly as he lets out shaky, panicked breaths, curling into himself with his hands right near his ears, preparing to cover them at the slightest hint of yelling. he tries very hard not to let anything other than fear slip out, and of that fear, he cannot and will not let himself cry. boys didn't cry.
peering up at Connor, distressed as he is, he notes the recognition in his eyes but realizes he doesn't know this man. which side is he on? which side were the others on? he doesn't know, there were people with guns on each side! he covers his face and presses the heels of his palms against his eyes, pointedly reminding himself that he hasn't allowed himself to cry. he forces his voice to be still and steady. ]
I got separated from the base.
[ that's too quiet, he scolds himself. a cadet would not say something like that so quietly. he squares his little shoulders and places his hands over his ears as he speaks, voice not a yell but a firm tone. ]
I-I got separated from the base! There was... someone... a guy came and started shooting and I was outside and I wasn't--wasn't supposed to be. He chased after me and I got lost in the fighting.
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he would've closed his eyes, he wanted to close his eyes against that kind of violence, but it was too terrifying and quick-paced to not watch with big, round eyes.
and there, he's not sure when he started shaking like a leaf. maybe it was when he saw the man (the one he was very sure was calling to him, beckoning him closer just seconds before) rush towards Connor with murderous intent, or maybe it was when the other man was shot to death by his comrades, he isn't sure. maybe it was both and he was shaking from sheer overwhelming fear and the sound of being half-deaf thanks to so many guns going off so near him.
whichever it is, it's very clear in Riku's head even as Connor sets him down, his chest rising and falling quickly as he lets out shaky, panicked breaths, curling into himself with his hands right near his ears, preparing to cover them at the slightest hint of yelling. he tries very hard not to let anything other than fear slip out, and of that fear, he cannot and will not let himself cry. boys didn't cry.
peering up at Connor, distressed as he is, he notes the recognition in his eyes but realizes he doesn't know this man. which side is he on? which side were the others on? he doesn't know, there were people with guns on each side! he covers his face and presses the heels of his palms against his eyes, pointedly reminding himself that he hasn't allowed himself to cry. he forces his voice to be still and steady. ]
I got separated from the base.
[ that's too quiet, he scolds himself. a cadet would not say something like that so quietly. he squares his little shoulders and places his hands over his ears as he speaks, voice not a yell but a firm tone. ]
I-I got separated from the base! There was... someone... a guy came and started shooting and I was outside and I wasn't--wasn't supposed to be. He chased after me and I got lost in the fighting.