CODE X 777

C O D E 2 3 B L E E D

Slaine was conscious. So, now Lupin could resume his main procedures. He had been reading a lot lately to provide the best cure to Slaine's burns. He examined him the next morning. His burns appeared dry and leathery, white at certain places and maroon at the others. Lupin thought of doing skin grafting to help the skin but then decided to drop the idea as there was no part where Slaine wasn't burnt except few traces on his face.

Jimmy brought some ice to help Slaine but lupin stopped him. He wrote "Never use ice on a burn. It decreases blood flow and prevents healing."

He removed the Silvadene Dressing once it was dry—to clean away the dead tissue. Asselyum helped him thereafter. She would wash his burns gently once a day with unscented, antimicrobial soap. He would bleed every time he'd bath but Lupin informed that a small amount of bleeding was normal. His facial burns were washed twice daily. After the bath, she would apply a thin layer of Bacitracin antimicrobial cream. Then, she'd put out on a non-stick gauze called Cuticerin, wrap all burns except the face and ears with non-stretch roller gauze and put him to bed. Between dressing changes, Slaine took a pill of Tylenol to treat pain.

As his burns healed, his pain reduced and his skin felt as if it was being constantly stretched. His healed skin appeared shiny pink with a tint of orange. It had been two months and he was able to walk now. But, he still didn't come out of his room very often.

He sat on the terrace that evening. He needed to avoid the sun to ensure that his burns heal properly. His skin was wrinkled and dry. He had patches of burn marks on his face. One near his lips, one near his ear and a large one on his forehead—disappearing into his hairline.

Asselyum came and sat beside him.

"Why don't you go out?" She asked.

"Because people will stare and I don't want that." He replied.

"Why would they stare?"

"Because I look different now. I feel so ugly. There isn't anything good about my face anymore."

She couldn't believe it was the same old Slaine who was so confident about his looks "You're so stupid."

"What?"

"Ugliness can be fixed,"

"Yeah, thanks for that inspo quote."

"Hey, let them stare. It doesn't matter if you're beautiful to them or not."

Slaine looked at her "You are still you. Few scratches on your face can't change your entire existence or your worth."

He leaned towards her "Say, who do you like more? Me or Jimmy." He asked. She looked into his eyes.

"Seems a bit too heterosexual for my taste." Lucifer stood at the door and Slaine moved away from Asselyum.

"What? Have I c**k-blocked someone?" Lucifer asked.

"Aren't you disappointed with yourself sometimes?" Slaine snarked.

"What is a disappointment? When you run into the wall with an erection and break your nose."

Slaine clicked his tongue and got up. "I'm going out for a while." He put on a mask and took his skateboard. He went downtown, back to the skatepark.

"Who do you like more?"

"What the f**k did I just ask her? I think I've burnt some brain cells too." He went up a ramp and landed a 720. He felt much relaxed after being able to skate after such a long time. He was beginning to feel it when someone jumped on him from behind. He turned back. It was Evelyn. "You scared me!."

"Where were you?! I had to practice alone every day!"

"I was a bit busy," Slaine answered while fixing his mask.

"I learned how to ollie. Teach me something else!"

"Alright. Let's learn a frontside flip."

An hour passed, it had turned dark. Evelyn and Slaine stood under the streetlights. He felt hot due to the mask.

"Why don't you just remove it?" Evelyn asked him.

"No, I'm fine."

They sat at one of the ramps and stared at the East waters shimmering under the city lights.

"The city looks so beautiful," Evelyn said.

"Yep. You should go back home now. Your mom must be worried."

"It's fine. She won't mind even if I never come back."

"Why so?"

"Because she's dead."

"What? You said that—"

"I lied."

Slaine quietly stared ahead.

"Are you angry that I lied?" Evelyn asked.

"Nope."

"Then, aren't you curious why I lied?"

"Not really. I pretty much know why you lied."

"Tell me."

"You were afraid I'd judge you and treat you differently."

"I just don't want people to pity me because I live in an orphanage. I'm grateful that at least I'm alive and healthy. And someday, I'll be happier." Evelyn smiled.

Slaine looked at him.

"Who gave you the skateboard though?"

"Well...It was you."

"Me?" Slaine was shocked.

"When I was four, I met you. You were with some other boys who looked dangerous. You came to this park with them. I was just sitting and staring at everyone else play. You came to me and gave your skateboard to me and asked me skateboard too. Since then, I have come here every day."

Slaine couldn't remember it at all.

"I know you don't remember but it's fine. I'm glad I found you again,"

Slaine removed his mask and looked at Evelyn. 

"You look different,"

"Yeah. Don't you feel creeped out?" 

"Why? You just got a bit hurt on your face. It'll go away."

"No, it won't. It's scarred for life now." Slaine began weeping silently. Evelyn wiped his tears with his hands "It'll go. And even if it doesn't, that doesn't make you any less of a good skateboarder. I still admire you just as much."

"This is a face that nobody could love." 

"Who says that? I love you." Evelyn stood beside Slaine while he sat on the ramp. Slaine's bangs covered his eyes as he turned his head down.

"I love you too. And I'll protect you from all the things that I've seen."

Evelyn laughed and hugged his head "You sound like you're my dad."

"You can call me that."

"What a beautiful bond between a father and a son, how emo." They heard and turned back. It was Riley with his boys.

"Why are you here?" Slaine got up and stood before Evelyn.

"Ew, what happened to your face? Cover it, dude. Ugly!"

Slaine put on his mask while Evelyn glared at Riley.

"We've got another race for you," Frank said.

"I told you I'm not doing that."

Riley turned his head aside and looked at Evelyn. He snickered and Evelyn hid behind Slaine.

"You can't really refuse now."

"And why do you think that?"

"You've now got yourself a weakness and you know it." Riley walked towards him and patted his shoulder "Kids have been disappearing recently—This one can too,"

"Touch him and I'll kill you," Slaine glared at him while Riley smirked.

"Should I take it as a yes?"

Asselyum came down to the bar and found Jimmy feeding on some tater tots.

"Jimmy—You're here?" She asked.

"Yeah?" Jimmy answered.

"You let Slaine go alone?"

"Slaine went out?"

"You do know that they must be looking for him, right? If there is one thing X-DROIDS hate—It's their food getting taken away. So, now they have their eyes on him."

-To be continued