We hurried into the hospital, meeting Strawberry in the entrance hall.

"He's this way," she said, looking absolutely exhausted. Her pink hair was gathered on top of her head in a messy bun, but strands had somehow escaped and hung down everywhere. She was also wearing sweats and a big sweater that didn't fit her usual colourful clothing style.

She motioned us to follow her trough a pair of double doors and down a hall.

"What happened?" Dion asked.

"He's alright, like he's not in danger or anything, but..." She stopped and turned around. "He's really rough-looking. Don't get a fright when you see him, just know he's going to be okay, yeah?"

We both nodded and Dion's hand found mine.

We finally stopped in front of a door and Strawberry opened it. He was lying in a bed, his eye as blue as his hair. He had dark splotches all over his face, as well as stitches.

"Hey Nikon," Dion said softly.

Xander sat beside him, holding his bandaged hand in his. "His jaw is broken so it's wired shut. He can't talk," Xander said with a shivering voice and looked up at us. "He's very strong though."

Nikon glanced up at his husband and sighed a bit. He grabbed his phone that rested on top of the blanket and tapped at it.

"I'll be fine," a mechanic voice said from the phone. "Just hurts like a bitch."

"At least you still look somewhat pretty," Dion said, and Nikon snorted. He held up his middle-finger and Dion laughed. He sat down on the other side of the bed in the chair.

"Hey, Xander, let's go get you some coffee," I said and smiled at my friend.

"Is it alright darling?" Xander asked and rose to his feet. Nikon shooed him out of the room.

Xander did look like someone who desperately needed coffee. And a place where he got to be weak. It was obvious he tried to be strong for Nikon, but the man needed a break. Desperately, in my opinion.

We went to the cafeteria in silence, got some coffee from the vending machine and sat down at a table.

"You wanna talk about what happened?" I asked tentatively.

Xander was staring down at his paper cup, before looking up at me, wide-eyed. "He was attacked on his way home. By the club. They were waiting for halfs there, he said. They were all wearing masks, so he didn't get a good look at them. His arm and jaw are broken. He had to get so many stitches. He has bruised ribs and..." he trailed off and tears flooded his eyes. "He's okay, but I was so afraid when I got here. There was so much blood." Tears trailed down his cheeks, but they didn't drop down on the floor. Instead they floated up towards the ceiling. "I try to be strong for him. He doesn't like it when I cry," he sniffled and dried his eyes with a tissue I handed him.

"It's okay. I'll be strong for a bit."

He nodded and sniffled again. "I just don't know why anyone would do this to him." Another tear floated towards the ceiling.

"If it helps, I don't think it was about him personally."

"No, I know. But I take it personally. Nikon wouldn't harm a fly and now he's lying in that sterile room and won't be able to talk for at least three weeks." He broke down completely and I took his hand in mine, letting him cry it out. He kept a firm grip on my hand as he put his forehead down on his arm, resting on the table.

"I'm so afraid, Arlo," he sobbed and lifted his head back up again. "Who's to say they won't kill someone the next time?"

"I don't know." I didn't know what to say. I'd never get over this if it had happened to Dion. I'd probably also sniff through the entire town to find the perps. And I wouldn't be able to promise I wouldn't do something very bad.

He composed himself and got another tissue from me. "I'm taking him away from here to heal. I'm taking him to Hydra. He agreed to go. I don't think we'll be back."

"I understand."

"I can't do this anymore. This city is toxic to the core." He took a sip of his coffee and cringed a little. Hospital coffee wasn't very good.

I nodded in agreement. "I've never seen this kind of... Hate. In hades. In death people let go of a lot of their biases. And if they don't, they don't make it to the Elysian fields. You have to be pure to enter there. Pure in your soul."

"Would... Would Nikon make it there?" Xander asked.

"I think so, yes. You both would. I'd put in a good word too." I smiled and Xander finally smiled too.

Both Xander and I stopped in the door, observing Dion, Nikon and Strawberry joke around. Nikon smiled, exposing the metal in his teeth. He looked rough but he looked better than when we had arrived. Maybe just getting a breather and dick around with his friends had had a positive impact on him.

His eyes swung to the door and he held his bandaged hand out towards his husband.

"What's so funny?" Xander asked softly. Strawberry rose from the chair and let Xander have it.

"We were just talking about the time Euphoria installed a chocolate fountain," Strawberry said. "I still have scars on my belly from the burns."

"Gods, you sure do have the weirdest work stories." Xander smiled softly at Nikon, kissing his battered fingers. "Are you tired, darling? In pain? Do you want me to fetch the nurse?"

Nikon pointed to his head and nodded.

"He has a concussion. His head hurts sometimes. Thank you for coming, but I think it's best we let him rest."

That was Xander's way of kicking us all out so they could be alone. His nice way. We said our goodbyes and then stood outside the room.

"We'll drive you home," I said to Strawberry.

"Can... Can you drive me to Oliver's?"

"Of course," I said softly and put my arm around her shoulders. "Are you gonna be okay?"

"I'm scared," she admitted, and I put both arms around her, hugging her close. "It'll be alright. I'll drive you to Oliver's and I'll make sure you get home from work safe and sound, alright? I'll get someone to walk all workers to their cars."

She nodded and pulled back, drying her eyes. "We'll make it work."

"Yeah, we will," Dion said and rubbed her arm. "And Nikon's badass. He'll be back before we know it."

I didn't wanna bring up Hydraright now with Strawberry here. I'd tell Dion about it later, but I feltStrawberry should get the news from Nikon and Xander.