Of Phantoms and Thieves

Crossing Paths

To get away from all that and chores as well had given him time to process everything that had been happening. The only thing that bothered Ren was that his parents hadn't been seeming to get along very well lately. He'd tried asking them what was wrong, interfering even, but they'd always give him the same response. 

"You're always sticking your nose where it doesn't belong, Ren. It's what caused you to get arrested in the first place! I wish you were more like your mother. She never complains and never questions anything... Anything until recently. I don't need another copy of you, you hear me? Stay out of this and stop trying to change my wife!" 

Ren, after feeling good for a few seconds, was depressed again. He was hoping to go run some errands with his mom and talk about the situation. His father had been unwilling to share any details, and his mom was a shy person. Yet both of them had come anyways, making it impossible for Ren to open up on the topic.

"Reminds me of Shido..." he muttered to himself.

"Pfft, you think?" Morgana asked.

Ren looked down and sighed at the cat. He knew that he probably shouldn't talk to Morgana right now. Out of everything, he didn't need his father telling him to stop being crazy and talking to the freaking cat.

Ren's mom seemed to notice the change in the teen's mood. She turned around and looked at him.

"Ren, are you sure you're feeling alright?"

"He's thinking about it again, I can tell," his father mumbled. "What's on your mind, Ren?"

There he goes again, acting like nothing is wrong...

Ren stayed silent and stared at a hawk circling above something, likely a small mammal. His dad sighed and turned to his mom.

"See? He's doing it again."

"Doing what again?"

"Ignoring me. He just had to be like you..."

"There's nothing wrong with that, honey-"

"There is too something wrong with it! Look at him! The kid's feeling depressed, I just know it!"

"Now, now, that doesn't mean we have to push him."

"Like he's not pushing me?"

Ren sat up.

"Will you shut up?!?"

He was just as surprised as everyone else at the words that came out of his mouth.

"Sweetie, tell him to not talk to his father that way."

"Ren-chan-"

"No!" Ren shouted. "Stop it! You keep on listening to him and doing what he asks you to! It's all wrong! Do you have any sense of respect for yourself! You've got to stand up against him!"

Ren's father turned around. "Now, Ren, what have they done to you over in Tokyo? This Phantom Thief-whatever stuff is changing you. They've stopped what they're doing, and now's not the time to be a fanboy! What happens between your mother and I is none of your business!"

"It is too my business!" Ren retorted. "You're my parents, I should know what's happening in this family!"

Ren's father reached back and grabbed Ren's wrist. "Listen now, son. I don't want to have to repeat this."

Ren struggled. "Let go of me!!!"

"YOU WILL LISTEN, YOU STUPID KID!!!"

"The car..." Ren's mom muttered. "Honey, the car!!!"

Ren hadn't realized that they were in the city now. His eyes widened and he grabbed Morgana and embraced him. Glass shattered, scraps of metal flew everywhere, and Ren felt like he was flying before darkness took over.

Ren didn't know how he got back to reality, but he found himself on the floor, a few nurses gathered around him. He wondered if someone had been there to bring him back to reality- whether it be angel or demon- and had merely set him on the floor.

"He's going to be okay, right?" Ren heard a familiar voice ask.

"I think he's come around again," another voice replied.

"Ren-ren doesn't look so good..."

The mention of that nickname with that voice was tied to only one conclusion: Ryuji and Ann had come at the worst possible moment. Ren groaned and began to sit up, but the nurses pushed him back down.

"Be still," the one from before told him. "You weren't doing what you were supposed to. Looking at your phone while in your condition is a big no."

Ren sighed and allowed the nurses to help move him onto the bed. As they began to leave to let him rest, Ann and Ryuji both came over to the side of his bed.

"So... How ya doin', man? We heard the news and decided to come today after they told us that you were awake."

"Where's Futaba and Sojiro?" was the first thing that came out of Ren's mouth.

"Uh, I don't know," Ann sighed. "They were here earlier. I guess they went back to get some stuff done back at home. You see, Morgana couldn't come, and he was really worried about you. I think they might be filling him in on what happened."

"But, you know," Ryuji said, tilting his head to the side. "We wanted to come and see you too, just like everyone else."

Ren was about to mention the Metaverse app, but then decided against it.

"Hey, uh... I'm sorry for yelling at you guys and being dumb earlier," Ren muttered.

"No man, it's okay," Ryuji countered. "You've been through a lot. We get it. You just get some rest. We'll take care of those Shadows-"

Ryuji looked over at Ann. Ren just laughed.

"Still the same conversations, eh Ryuji?"

Ren smiled and then his expression fell slack as he processed the words that came out of Ryuji's mouthed.

"W-Wait. You guys have it too?"

Ann and Ryuji looked at each other. Ryuji opened his mouth to speak, but Ann beat him to it.

"Well... um..."