A/N: This chapter is pretty well unedited, so forgive me for any spelling mistakes (though feel free to point them out).

Last part, Elio's parents discovered Xalen's failed test mark- which led to them threatening to kick him out. This- along with many other factors caused him to attempt to kill himself a few days later- which luckily failed, however even after the fact, his parents still can't realize their mistakes... and so, Elio is now determined to run away from home.

Elio's P.O.V.

"Right- clothes are especially important to pack since that stupid Kingmas "winter day" is coming soon. But I'll need food as well... I'll bring my ID with me too, I doubt I'll ever need to use it but- just in case." I think to myself shakily as I throw a few pairs of my jeans into a big black suitcase that I found in our apartment, then continue to scramble around my room to get important things I'll need.

"Am I really doing this...? Shut up idiot- of course I am, I'm not going to feed into the cycle of this stupid competitive job market and create more Xalen's... but... wait... I'll have to leave him too if I go..." I think to myself with gritted teeth as I drop another pile of my clothes into the suitcase...

"But he was angry at me for saving his life! So would it really be so wrong to leave him behind? ...No, no- he probably didn't mean what he said, he just needs help... I know. I'll try to take him with me, then we can go to another hospital to get him help- AWAY from Mom and Dad. His head is probably almost healed already so... y-yeah, yeah I'll try that, just whatever I HAVE to get out of here!" I think to myself as I rigorously shake my head, then head over to my parents room.

They should have "safety money" there if I remember right... I won't take it all but I'll need quite a bit... not like they'll need to feed me or pay for my university classes anymore so, I'll take payment for that.

I slam the door to their bedroom open, and start to look through their cabinets- until finally after getting desperate and looking through their room from head to toe, I finally feel a jar hidden under their bed.

I pull it out, and notice it's only about half full with a bunch of Herin coins and bills... "That's not very much... sorry, "Mom" and "Dad" I'll have to take it all." I think to myself with a frown on my face, I mean, they SHOULD be fine with the money in their bank accounts as is... why am I feeling bad for them? Let's go, I'll go pick up Xalen quickly- then I'm gone!

Half an Hour later...

"...Dear God please let this work out somehow... you blessed Xalen enough to let him survive a bullet to the head, so please just let me save him from those monsters..." I think to myself with closed eyes, as after scanning my ID at the hospitals front door and going inside- I'm now walking through the halls of it as I pull two large suitcases behind me, one for me and one with Xalen's stuff... speaking of which, he should be in room 124.

"122, 123, 124. ...Stop being a baby, go." I think to myself with a sigh as I arrive at his door- then without a thought I scan my ID onto a small pad on the door, which automatically opens it, to where I can see him still lying in his bed with a ton of bandages being around his head. He slowly turns his body to look at me...

"Hey Xalen. Look- I know you're in a... dark place right now, so I'm sorry for yelling at you before. It's just- I love you so much, that seeing you not even caring about your life... it hurt. It really hurt me. But- more importantly- Xalen let's go. Mom and Dad, I talked to them- they haven't changed at ALL- when they take you back home, it's probably- no WILL just be the same as before. They even want to get you tested by a bunch of doctors like a lab rat for money... we need to leave. I have money- so we can rent a motel for a bit, I can sing on the streets to get us some money and..." I say but stop as Xalen gives me a weird look.

"W... what? Elio, I'm not... I can't go. My head wounds could reopen if I leave... and even when I recover I... I'm not living on the streets. Not with all those homeless people and thieves around... what if we got kidnapped, and killed or raped or something? It's... not worth it. I don't even have the strength- or want to move right now..." Xalen replies which makes me frown, but I try to hide my disappointment- I have to keep on trying.

"Like I said, I have enough money so we can rent a cheap motel for a little while- and look you can just stay in there- or at a different hospital for treatment while I go out and earn us some more Herin. I think people would be generous and tip me if I was out in a busy part of the continent and rapping. Just we NEED to leave, please come on!" I say, a bit more desperately this time as I walk over to him and gently tug his shoulder.

"...Elio, you ruined my one way out of this hell by stopping me from peacefully ending it all. Don't think you can fix that all now with this "plan"... I'm not leaving to die a horrible death. I'll... just stay here." He says as he doesn't even bother to look my in the eyes... which is for the better since mine are watering now... how could he...

"Xalen... f-fine. I'm so sorry... I have to go alone then. I promise, I swear, I'll find a way to come back to visit you. I won't leave you alone, not with them. Even though you're mad at me... j-just know that- that I love you man." I whimper as my mouth quivers, then with blurred eyes I wrap my arms around him and give him the biggest hug I ever have. He doesn't even react to it...

*CLICK!*

Suddenly I can hear the door to the room open, and so I wipe my eyes and turn my head back- to see "Mom" and "Dad" standing in the doorway...

"Elio? Why do you have our suitcases...? You're not... you're not doing what I think you're doing, ARE YOU?" Mom says, trying to intimidate me... I won't let her win. Not this time.

Without a word I start to walk towards her, leaving Xalen's suitcase behind in the process. Looking back at him one more time, I can see him staring at me... I'm so sorry... but I have to go.

"Move." Is all I say as I look back towards Mom and Dad who are still blocking off the open doorway to the room.

"Then leave the suitcase here." Dad says as he stares down at me... I stare back at him.

"Move!" I shout as I try to push my way through them- but damn it they won't budge!

"Elio- you're going to regret this, stop. After we've supported and loved you for so long, you really want to just leave us?!" Dad says as I finally stop pushing against them, but his words send me over the edge.

"STOP LYING- MOVE!!" I shout as I clench my fist and swing my arm up at Dad's face which makes him stumble backwards to dodge the hit, and so I take the chance to push past Mom as I drag the suitcase along with me.

"Ah!" I cry out as Dad wraps his arms around my chest and Mom cries behind us.

"Security- someone- help!!!" Dad shouts out and so I panic and start elbowing his chest over and over as hard as I can- until finally I swing my head back into his lowered face, which makes him grunt and let me go.

"ELIO STOP!!!" My "Mom" cries out as I run down the hall, but I could care less- I-I need to get out of here before any security shows up!!

A month later...

🎵🎵🎵

"Yeah- it's way too abysmal, far too predictable, every single day going through the same shit ahhh rep-"

"Maybe if you'd get better singing things wouldn't be so "abysmal"..." A douchebag in ripped jeans and a tanktop laughs as he walks by me by my "begging station" on the street sidewalk I'm standing on.

Turns out the money I took from Mom and Dad was only enough to rent me a motel for a little over a week, since if I stayed any longer I would've run out of money for food... I never thought something as crappy as a motel would cost so much. So I've been sleeping outside for weeks now and making a few Herin per day by rapping...

"...Why did I do this to myself? I-I'm gonna die out here... the gang that robbed me is probably going to come back again to finish me off. Then... then... Xalen... fucking bastards, they won't even let me visit him! They're probably treating him like shit too..." I think to myself, cursing my "parents" as I shakily slump down to the cold ground and lean against the black bricked building behind me, with my face being in my palms.

"That song you were singing a moment ago: do you have any more of them?" A monotone voice says from above me, and so I shift my hands to allow me to look up. Doing that I can see a man with pink eyes and long blonde hair without a shirt is raising and choking the guy who made fun of my song a minute ago.

"U-um, yes- I do. Are... are you part of a gang?" I ask as I cringe and glance away from the scene.

*THUMP!*

The blonde man drops the douchebag to the ground who starts to cough like crazy on his knees, until he screams, stumbles up, and runs away.

"I am not here to injure you if that is what you are concerned about. I would simply like to hear another one of your melodies." The man with pink eyes says... looking up at him he's... smiling but... his mouth looks really weird- like his lips look painted on... somethings off.

"Yes: I am a robot: my "skin" is simply painted on. Laugh at my appearance if you please. However I would still like to hear more of your music." Oh so that's it... weird... most robots aren't this smart...

"Sure." Is all I say. Actually I guess he may have been choking that guy before because he made fun of my song... so he may really be friendly... still WAY too aggressive of a reaction to a single mean comment though.

Twenty minutes later...

"Freedom, it has one hellava price- gotta fend for yourself and fight your life. But as long as I've got a knife and some food, I'll always prefer it over an artificial mood." I finish singing with a nervous smile, as I know the meaning of it is probably pretty abstract... but regardless, the robot has been sitting in front of me with his hands on his knees this whole time as I sing... and even better he's had a smile on his face the whole time, even when I've messed up the lyrics.

"Um- sorry but, that's all I've got for now. ...I'm sorry for asking but... would you mind leaving a tip sir? Or- sorry robot?" I ask with a awkward laugh as the robot gets up in response... oh no... I hope it isn't mad... I mean it's still smiling so I think I'm ok.

"Of course. Your music was superb so it is only right. However even if it was subpar- I still would have tipped you." The robot says which- actually makes me feel really good......

"Oh- haha, thank you very much then." Is all I can say with a blush as the robot walks up to me, but instead of dropping a tip in my jar, he... lowers his hand down to me? He's leaning his head down to my ear as well.

"My tip to you is a new home: one that I am sure you are meant for after hearing your songs. One that hates the state of this territory equally as much as you do. Say: have you ever heard of the Red Fists?" The robot says quietly which confuses me... uh... this robot owns a house too? I mean I guess he seems pretty smart so far but... this is kinda weird. Anyways I reply to the last bit,

"Yeah. I know who they are. Why- are you... trying to be like them? Or something? Wait... you're dressing up like Kodan aren't you?" I ask as some lady in a dress walks by us... luckily no one has interfered with us so far.

Anyways the robot responds,

"I am a former member of the original Red Fists. And yes: you are correct: I am mimicking the prior leader of the Red Fist's appearance at the moment. My name is Restroid: and I am the new leader of the Red Fists who will alter this awful society for the better." He says even quieter right into my ear as he places his hand on my shoulder... just like what Mom and Dad used to do... blegh.

Whatever. Restroid... wait... I remember that name, when I was scouring through the internet for information on the Red Fists I saw a picture of him next to Kodan! And he was a bronze robot in that photo too...

"I mean- basically no one knows who the lesser member of the Red Fists are since only Kodan really put himself out there. So shit... this guy really could be Restroid!" I think to myself as a big smile comes onto my face.

"You'll really take me in? Didn't you guys have a hideout before- where is it no-"

"Shhhh. I am pleased you are excited: however we wouldn't want the authorities to discover us before we returned to our hideout. Correct?" He continues to "whisper"- or more so just say with a lower volume on voice...

I nod, but then instantly start to tear up as Restroid hugs me... even Mom and Dad never... they never even did this... thank you, God.

10 months later, present day...

Elio's P.O.V.

"Tch!-" I cry out as I inject myself with the needle that's filled with my medication.

"N-now I shouldn't feel bad for killing that kids Mom... yeah. I'll be fine now. Restroid will always know how to help me." I think to myself as I take deep shaky breaths, and look around to see the interior of our base with our younger members drawings all over it. But then my eyes start to blur and my sight... gets... haz... y...

*THUMP!*

A/N: Elio's flashback concludes with him leaving his parents, and falling into Restroid's deceiving arms...

OK- finally Elio's arc is done!! Next chapter (which is 100!!) will go back to the MC's (and antagonists). It'll also be titled "Eye's of God".

More news on chapter 100 should come out soon (like how long it'll be etc.).

Thank you all very much for reading, hope you consider voting or commenting if you enjoyed and see you next time!