the after :: kirito & ridley

Only a year ago he had been here for Kass. Walked down these same white walls towards the seclusion of the broken. Back from hell, but still isolated from the world. Learning the way of new limbs and getting familiar with the medically induced dreams. This is where he is heading now, back into the same room they've all woken up within. Every Victor of every Games. It's always the same damn room.

While he walks, Kirito wonders whether Justice is already with her. Telling her of what to expect when she finally breaches the barriers of this hospital. What was it that Katelyn had told him? Something about accepting the fact that there are some things that can never be repaired? The older Victor isn't entirely sure any more, it's been nearly a decade and a half after all.

Turning the final corner, Kirito stops beside the daunting door. Its metal handle is only inches from Kirito's fingertips, but still he delays by knocking lightly first. Only after another short second of silence does he walk into the room to look at the newest survivor of Snow's Games. They always seem so different than they do on the screens.

Kirito picks up her chart from the edge of the bed and skims over a few lines.

"Medically you're doing well, you should be out of here in a few days."

He places the chart back onto the bed frame.

"Thank you for doing what you could for Milo. No matter what they stole from you, you have a good heart Ridley Le Roux."

^{[ DARS ]}