"Matteo, you can't be serious. You're not going back in there." Cade grabs at his sleeves, willing him to stay.
"I'm not standing here doing nothing, Cade. I can't." He shrugs Cade's hands off and moves to fix his mask.
"I'm not standing here doing nothing either."
"Oh, really?" Matteo's stalling, trying to buy himself some time.
"I'm waiting for the emergency services and, y'know, not getting myself killed."
"I don't have a choice, Cade." His voice softens.
"There are more fucking kids in there."
"Matteo-"
"I'll get them and then I'll stop." He pretends not to notice the shaking in his limbs, the difficulty trying to focus.
It takes him two attempts to shift, his form flickering before finally disappearing, Cade's soft "be safe" lost in the wind.
The smoke hits him first, the initial shock of not being able to breathe causing his already unsteady landing to send him crashing to his knees. It's so much thicker than a few minutes ago, and he silently curses Cade. If he'd let him go before, he'd at least be able to see.
"Hey! Anyone here?" He pauses to cough into his elbow, his hand reaching for the wall. He shouts again.
It's eerily silent at first, the crackle of the flames growing louder, the wall under his hand growing warmer. He can't see, the smoke burning his eyes and blinding him. Finally, there's a small whimper, a shuffle in the darkness.
"Hey, I'm gonna help you. Keep talking for me. What's your name?"
"Ge-George."
"I'm Matteo, I'm gonna get you out." He gags against the smoke. "You're gonna be fine."
"She's not waking up."
"Who isn't, George?" Matteo trips over something on the floor, sending him sprawling and winding him further.
"My sister."
"That's okay. I'll get you out." Matteo can feel the blood dripping onto his lips, and he wipes it away, only for it to immediately be replaced. He continues stumbling forward, growing more blinded by the smoke and getting increasingly dizzy.
"'m not going. Not without her."
"I'm not gonna leave her." He finally reaches the kids, pausing to cough some more before reaching for the girl. "Are you hurt anywhere?"
"No." George answers, tear streaks clear down his face. "Are we gonna die?"
"No. You're gonna be fine." Matteo promises, pulling George into his arms. "We're gonna go now, you're gonna be fine."
He neglects to tell him the mechanics of his shifting, that if you're not used to it, it feels like you're dying. The kid didn't need it, and Matteo wasn't sure how many attempts it would take. He spits the blood out of his mouth and jumps.
The fresh air burns and, already dizzy from exhaustion, he drops to his knees. Cade isn't far away, shouting as he runs towards him. He can't make it out, forcing himself to stay upright until the medics drag the kids from his grasp.
"Tay, you're okay. I've got you." Cade's arms are wrapped around him, coaxing him to breathe. He's not sure if he can even hear him, but he's not letting him go again.
Matteo blinks up at Cade, confusion registering on his face as he realises he's on his back. He's sure they're trying to drown him, and he pushes them away, trying to roll onto his side.
He swats at the mask on his face, only to have his hands pulled away by Cade. He coughs again, the taste of metal growing stronger in his mouth.
Cade continues to hold Matteo's hand, trying to give him a sense of familiarity as he slips in and out of consciousness.
Matteo comes to a few times in the back of the ambulance, trying to blink his surroundings into focus, before feeling Cade's hand in his and giving up.
He wakes up in a hospital gown, sore and confused. When the nurses try to talk to him, he stares blankly at them before slipping under again. Cade doesn't leave, ready to fight the nurses when they suggest it. He stays by Matteo's side, leaning over the bars of the bed as he sleeps.
When he finally opens his eyes, it takes him a moment too long to focus, panic rising before he notices Cade hunched over the bottom of his bed.
"Cade?" His voice is rough, the words scratching his throat.
"Tay?" He sits up, disorientated. "Tay. You scared me. I told you not to-"
"The kids?"
"They're in better shape than you, you idiot." He rubs at the tears forming, moving up to hug him.
"The girl?"
"Came round a few hours ago. They're gonna be fine."
Matteo frowns, the timeframe in his head not matching up.
"You've been out a while, Tay. It's eleven am, they had to knock you out, they were breathing for you. I was so worried."
His dark, unruly hair falls into his face as he nods. Cade reaches up to push it off for him, the touch comforting and familiar. They sit in silence for a while, Matteo dozing as Cade continues to chat to him, the knock on the door surprising them both.
"Matteo Hayworth? I'm Noah Archer. We need to chat."
