Miko nodded when Rowan asked if the lockets were enchanted. At the time he had forgotten they were enchanted but when the silver glow came from it the boy noticed it and remembered.

The Hufflepuff looked away from Rowan, the words stinging almost as badly as his shoulder did. He stayed strong, though, even though he knew it was not the best choice. Being fiercely loyal doesn't always turn out great, it causes the beholder to stay around people who don't want them nor people who are good for them. "I..I don't know.." Miko swallowed the lump in his throat and shook his head.

"Why? That day you left it broke a bit of me, honestly. I didn't want to confront it so I just shoved it down until now I guess. I kept it because it reminded me of the feeling that I belonged and someone actually thought I was kind of nice, you know? I kept the locket because that part I lost still lingered in the locket. That's why. Talking is good, it does help and you need to get it through your thick skull, Rowan! I know you are completely out of my league and you deserve better than someone like me but you still need to be guided by someone. You can not always be in control of everything." 

Miko didn't stutter and pride was swelling in his chest. He'd always been to nervous to say how he felt and all of that built up. The lad guessed that's why people might like him so much, because he was too nice. Too nice for his own good and that showed all until now. Now, he showed how he felt and how he couldn't always keep himself together. The flaws shone through which he never liked, the flaws that he thought would drive everyone away but he somehow still got friends.

He chuckled and shook his head. "And to think you got over it so fast after I kept yours too.." 

As Miko kept talking, the tears seemed to run faster. He drove the knife deeper into his chest and kept twisting as his words drilled into his head.

“Stop.”

Rowan mumbled at first, shaking his head slowly. 

“Stop- stop- STOP!”

The last line broke him. Did he still care? 

Yes.

No matter how much he didn’t want to face it, the truth screamed in his head, pushing out more tears, letting the months of emotion he refused to face pour out. Too fast. New environment- No longer any danger- New people— Classes- Christmas- Wheelchair- Miko’s emotion towards him- All of it such spastic events, each piling on top of each other, giving Rowan no time to process. Miko was the easiest variable to remove at the time. It only made Rowan worse though. He struggled with the wheelchair then, and ontop of that, he flipped over to a new relationship in order to attempt to fill that role where he lacked the support. 

It didnt work. As much as he hated to admit it he was wrong. Had been wrong about the entire thing. 

“It was too fast. You wanted to throw everything at me at once. I was struggling-“

His voice broke. 

“I couldn’t process it- I just wanted it all to stop. I thought- I don’t know- I didn’t think- father was all about grades- then the injury- then christmas- then- recovery- the fights with father- I didn’t get Christmas break to even relax- I just- the world was moving too fast.”

He shook his head. Miko really wanted to cry but it wasn't his time, even if it was it seemed no tears would come. The boy had to blink several times because it felt like a desert on his eyes.

"...Rowan...I-..you can live with me. My dads will welcome you..not my brother but you'll probably kill him anyway. If you can handle being lower middle class, that is." 

Miko figured Rowan would say now but it was worth a shot. He wanted to help the other and understood how the world was piling things on to him. Though the Gryffindor thought he was sneaky about hiding his emotions Miko could see right through him when he looked into his cold eyes. The Hufflepuff almost felt how Rowan felt, like it was metaphoric magic.

He thought of a song.
Music.
Of course.

The Hufflepuff hummed 'You Had a Bad Day', a tear falling from his eye finally. Music had always been there for Miko when he had to express himself. Music was therapeutic, especially for this boy. Having his talent in music you would figure he loved music which is very true. When he was a young boy, Miko had played a note on guitar and that was all it took for him to beg his father to take him to voice and guitar lessons which paid off clearly. 

As soon as Miko started singing he broke out into laughter. Teary laughter, but laughter still. 

“You are not seriously singing that song, are you? Oh gods- wow you are- hah! You’re adorable.”

He wiped at his messy face, pulling a handkerchief out of his pocket so he could clean up. His words weren’t mocking in any way. It was more of a surprised tone than anything, like he hadn’t heard that song in years maybe. 

“Okay- well- I’ll keep that in mind, yeah? But I’m actually pretty good. It wasn’t any serious fights that I would need to move out or anything. I just kinda had a hard month and everything was crazy. I’m better now I guess.”

And now Miko was crying. Gods. Rowan rolled over to the side of the bed, taking his face gently into his hands so he could wipe away the tears. 

“We’re both such a mess aren’t we?”

He mumbled, searching his eyes for a moment, before he pulled back. Rowan took a small compact out of his bag, making a face as he saw the khol running down his face, and the red eyes and all. 

“Ew. Yeah. A mess indeed.”

He sighed as he looked over Miko, lowering the mirror into his lap, tears renewing after a few seconds. 

“Miko... I...”

He twisted his hands, before he finally sighed and shook his head, the obvious end of whatever he was going to say hanging in the air. Just waiting to be prodded at by a hopeful soul.

Rowan slowly rested his head on the side of the bed next to Miko’s hand, silent as ever now. 

He wheezed, kind of like a laugh but it didn't come out as well as that. Yes. That song. 

"I mean yer the mess 'ere, I got it from ya." Yay, his accent decided to attack once more.

Miko smirked when Rowan spoke and nodded. "Ye I understan' perfectle, hm? Go on, say s'more." The Hufflepuff returned the silence after saying his sentence because he, too, was a bit confused as to what he was about to say. About himself and Rowan, obviously.

How about we bring in some unwanted drama? You like that? No? Too bad you asked for it. Miko felt a tad bad for speaking with the other male after the whole situation a while ago and especially about Riley. Great. Riley now came into thought. The kid that made the lad's blood boil at the thought, fun hm? Even though it wasn't really Riley's fault that Rowan had 'chosen' him it still made Miko feel a bit angry, especially since of what happened before the two got together. It was bad, no doubt, but it might get worse if Rowan doesn't keep him away from Riley.

Most people would look at Miko and think; "This precious child can do no harm and hate no human.." which is so wrong it makes me want to correct them because despite his adorable looks and his seemingly harmless nature Miko is dangerous to those who provoke. Kind of like a wolf if you think about it. They seem cute and they normally don't bother anyone else unless they mess with a member of their pack or themselves then it is quite dangerous. 

Imagine if Milo came in about now.
Want him?
No?
Me neither, bye my ideas.

Miko moved his hand and lightly brushed Rowan's hand before sighing and retracting his hand.

"Thank ye fer the compliment though, lad, but I think I'm a bit more weird if ye think about it, eh?" 

He had wanted more silence to let Rowan finish his thought but the silence only made the write and Miko more anxious by the second so he spoke again. Yay. Have fun with him.

“I’m sorry.. I shouldn’t have...”

A male walked in the door and Rowan shot up instantly. He turned around, looking up at the adult. From his reaction... It was clear who he was. 

“A... friend from school, father.”

“A friend from school. You seem unsure about that response, child.”

The male had long, white hair, as well as a thick french accent. His hair was tied back, showing further how he was like Rowan. Slightly pointed, and heavily pierced ears. 

His father looked between the two, hands clasped behind him. And he did not look amused. 

“You seem quite emotional for him to just be a school friend, yes?”

“What did you come here for?”

A hard look appeared on his father’s face, as Rowan brushed the question off. He had given himself away instantly. Though there were not many other ways out. 

“Ten minutes, then you’re back in the room.”

“Yes sir.”

His father left after another moment of looking between them. Rowan only relaxed about thirty seconds after he left. His voice lowered to to a whisper when he spoke next. Like he was afraid Aldrich was lingering outside the door. 

“I have to go.. I was... I was gonna say..”

His eyes studied the ground, obviously having a moment where he was holding back his emotions again. Rowan shook his head a little, wiping at his eyes, pulling away further. He glanced to the door, before he looked at Miko, something contemplative in his eyes. Like he was considering saying something. 

He froze when the adult male barged in, slightly terrified and slightly confused. Miko was shooketh that the random guy came in but immediately pieced together that he was Rowan's father. They're face shape, ears, hair, almost everything was the exact same they could be twins if the adult was younger maybe.

White hair..
Cold eyes..
Pointed ears..
Thick French accent..

Miko still was having trouble piecing things together even after Aldrich left. He looked over to Rowan and frowned, searching his eyes and nodding sadly. 

"Er..I s'pose you gotta go..." He looked down and back to Rowan, shaping his hands to form a heart. Miko figured Rowan wanted to be quiet for a reason so he thought he should be quiet too. It made the Hufflepuff upset that Aldrich didn't approve of him was it because he wasn't rich or maybe it was because he wasn't the handsomest boy in the world, who knows. All Miko knew was that he had to toughen up sooner or later to stick with Rowan.

For a moment the fire in his eyes got kindled once more while he stared at the door. That fire was made of chivalry and hatred, the most dangerous mix undoubtedly. 

His gaze flicked to the pendant, still waiting on the side table. Rowan so badly just wanted to reach out and take it. But he knew he shouldn't. Miko... Miko had moved on. He didn't want to hurt him again. Already Aldrich would  be out for his hide and most likely, he would take the jewelry if he saw it on him. 

He wasn't about to risk that.

His eyes flicked to the door again, and he slowly backed away, not trusting himself to stay much longer than he had to to say goodbye. If he started something, he would easily go over the ten minute mark, and most likely start something he wouldn't want his father walking in on in this century, or next. 

"Yeah... I'll... I'll see you around. Back at hogwarts. We should meet up again."

He wanted to say so much more. Miko deserved it. The words were on the tip of his tongue. He could just spit it out and say it, or take the locket, or any number of things. However as his gaze landed on Miko's hands, what colour was left in his cheeks drained away. 

He turned to the door and finally forced himself to leave. 

Rowan has left the thread.

Miko smiled but it was more of a pity smile. He knew his fathers would have never made him leave if someone he cared about was hurt but c'est la vie as Rowan would say. Miko definitely didn't look up some french in his spare time.

His hope was hanging on a thread and he knew it. What he was about to say was only hope based. Hope that Rowan would hear it. Hope that it would work. Here it goes. "I still care." Miko said this loud enough for it to carry through the hallways for a little bit. If it even did reach Rowan it would sound like a whisper.

Miko was hopeful obviously and spent the last bit of his time humming songs to himself. He wasn't ready to full out sing especially since what his brother said to him about singing. The Hufflepuff knew it was wrong of what he stated but it still hurt him deep down.

-
-
One of the doctors calmly walked into Miko's room. "Uh..are you Miko Cirius Limoof?" Miko had to hold back a laugh from how the doctor pronounced his last name. They seemed young maybe in their late twenties with chocolate brown eyes with small flecks of gold in it and dark brown hair which was about as messy as Miko's. Their voice was kind and full of intelligence which was rather good for a doctor. "Yes sir but it's Limof." The doctor frowned slightly. "Erm sorry about that. If you don't mind I am going to help you. Well I guess that's what everyone does here." As the doctor shuffled closer to Miko the little patch where his name was sewn in was visible. It read; " DR. ALEC SCREFORD
". "I would much prefer you to do that Dr. Screford." The doctor seemed a bit startled at the use of his professional name from this kid who looked to be 13 even though his file said 11 clearly. Dr. Screford got out his wand and pointed it to Miko's shoulder. "Brackium Emendo" Miko could feel his shoulder pop which hurt for a split second but then immediate relief washed through his body. Was it fixed? Miko attempted to move his shoulder which worked, yay!

The doctor continued to use the spell on the rest of Miko's injured bones minus the bruised ribs. According to the doctor they had to heal themselves which Miko understood. Dr. Screford handed Miko a bottle of some purple liquid and nodded. "You will be discharged soon, Mr. Limof."