* my empire of dirt, [leo]

[NELL DOE DALE]

It was strange, falling back into the same ways it had been before the trial, when she was starting to actually warm up to her father. There would always be the fact that they couldn’t repair such a damaged relationship, restore it to the point where it used to be, but there was comfort in the companionship they now had. They were blood, and that was something both of them wanted from the world—a family that they could keep. Of course, Nell would soon be a part of another family and the excitement never went away when she thought of that, but the Dales weren’t blood. She respected them, the awkwardness about the whole trial thing had faded, but there could never be the bond as one had with real family. ”You’re quiet over there, mija,” her father called from the living room as he fussed with the television. She called back to him, ”Reading the paper. Didn’t know one came this morning.”

There was a pause before he answered, ”It comes every morning.” She grinned. It was strange that she actually felt comfortable around the man. True, they spent most of the time speaking to each other through sarcastic comments, but it was not to hurt each other, not like it used to be. That was just the people they were. ”Well, I’m ditching you for something more interesting now, Papa, since you’re only interested in that television,” she said with a sigh as she finished off her coffee—she only realized in spending time with her father that she drank it black because he always had—and took her feet off the glass table. She made to wipe it off so none of the house staff had to deal with it. She didn’t want to be an impolite guest after all. She kissed him on the cheek before departing, starting up Gwen and heading into the Hollow, away from the mansion. Nell didn’t have anything to do that day, she wasn’t sure what Josh was up to but was sure that she could find something to entertain herself. Maybe text a friend or something.

She decided to text a number of friends to see what they were up to as she parked on the street, close by to a Timmies. Nell had coffee over at her father’s, but in the wintertime, she liked to have something warm on her at all times. Her jacket wasn’t too thick, after all, but her boots were, especially because of her double sock situation. She also wore a red scarf tight around her neck, hitched up so it covered the bottom of her face. She was always affected by the cold, even though she never complained about it. She bet it had something to do with the fact that she was an Earth elemental, and almost cursed her element for succumbing to the snow. It was so dead this time of year, but she knew it was merely a hibernation. Just as she’d gone through with the depression. All she had to do was think of the flowers—in time, they would grow again. Nell walked out of Timmies with another coffee, heading down the street when she got a text in her pocket. Not paying attention to where she went as she took it out to see who’d replied to her, she didn’t notice the car coming her way.

[DAYONE LEO TYLER]

Leo had taken the bus to the Hollow. He walked down off the bus's stairs slowly, just bored and not really well happy. He hadn't been fully happy in a while. He hated his foster parents, but at least they tried, it didn't work though. They were too happy. Nothing really gave him much joy, nothing good happened to him in a while.He was actually held back because he failed his a lot of tests. He had started to just not care after his aunt died. And what ever bright happy moments he had, well those were with Josh and Nell, Josh teaching him to defend himself, Nell just being his friend. They were his only friends and he didn't mind that at all. But he couldn't shake the feeling of loneliness off of him, he couldn't get that feeling that he was totally and utterly alone in this world. He'd just have to survive, maybe he'd meet someone, but he doubted that.

His steps just ended up with him walking the town, just walking, wandering. It was something he did now a days. When he wasn't hiding, when he wasn't in class, he wandered. The bullies still picked on him, but he defended himself, he learned to be better. He still got picked on, just less frequency. And he'd been over to Nell's apartment where they hung out and ended up watching movies. Most of them he hadn't seen before because of his messed up childhood. And, well it was nice to do. He was glad that he had Nell as a friend, his origami buddy. He hoped she wouldn't betray him, not that he ever thought she would, just it would kill him more inside.

Leo was walking, he didn't know where, nor did he care. He just walked for the exercise and the chance to be away from the bullies and the Academy. He liked walking, it was something that told him he was still alive, something that gave him some purpose. It was weird, that walking gave him purpose, but it got him somewhere, and he wanted to make it somewhere in life. He guessed to do that you had to walk, walk down a road of hardships or something. He wasn't a philosopher, he didn't do much with his time, but he would think about things. Life gave him a lot to think about. But still right now his thinking was limited to what was a head of him, and what was happening near him. So it was no surprise when he saw Nell on the other end of the street. He noticed her easily, he recognized her among the faces of the people, he knew his friends.

But he noticed her start walking, the sign obviously said to not walk, the red hand burning brightly against the black background. And then he saw out of the corner of his eye the car. The fast moving, not gonna stop, gonna hit Nell and hurt her, car. He ran, he was always good at running, but it was usually to run from danger, never towards it. However, this was different, he was protecting his friend, he was saving her, he was going to run, he was going to run towards danger, head on, not caring about himself for once and caring for someone else. He pounced like a lion and shoved her with all of his strength and maybe a bit more, out of the way. Then well, he didn't know what happened.

He felt his body fly and hit the ground. He heard the cracks and snaps as it crumpled against the blacktop, the snow starting to fall. He couldn't feel anything, and it scared the shit out of him. The car he heard screech to a stop, the door open and someone scream. Shit well that's great, isn't it? He tried to move, but pain, unbearable gut wrenching pain shot through his body he could move his head, just a little, and he saw something. It was him wasn't it? But some of his body parts shouldn't be twisted like that. He breathed and it was hard to do, like sucking through a few straws, with each breath there were fewer and fewer straws. He couldn't move, he couldn't do anything, he just stared up at the sky and counted the snowflakes as they fell.

[NELL DOE DALE]

It didn’t register that someone had approached, that it was someone familiar even, because the next thing she was aware of was her being pushed, hard out of the street. Nell stumbled, coffee sloshing out of her hand, the liquid dripping across her jacket and burning through as her phone clattered to the pavement next to her. But she wasn’t concerned aout a cracked screen, not when she was so conscious of the screeching of tires and the thump and in the second of almost-absurd panic. In the split second between being abruptly shoved to the snowy ground and glancing around to collect herself, she was filled with the foreboding one had whenever a floorboard creaked when you were alone, or when you were alone in a forest at night. And then it became that feeling of when someone said they had bad news, and you immediately assume the worse but instantly come up with a thousand excuses for why that cannot be. Her mind figured it out before she was even willing to accept it, what had just happened. The smell of burnt tarmac, the commotion, and that millisecond passed when she saw the worst sight imaginable.

”L-Leo?” Her voice was quiet as she let herself lay eyes on the crumpled body. Once the shock had passed, she scrambled to grab her phone and spared nothing for the fact that it didn’t have any damage. She immediately called an ambulence, telling them where the accident was, that someone was hurt, and god, was he hurt. She stood and headed over before kneeling beside her friend. Lucky that she had a strong stomach, the odd angles his limbs were at only unsettled her because it was the fact she was seeing Leo like this, seeing a friend so hurt. But was he hurting? His body was probably numbing the pain he would otherwise experience to provide time and a chance of survival. It would eventually wear off, of course, but Nell just hoped that wouldn’t happen before the ambulence came. She didn’t know what to do with her hands, didn’t know what to do, because she wanted to comfort him and she couldn’t. She didn’t want to move him—there were obvious injuries, but who knew if his spinal cord may have been damaged? Nell didn’t want to risk moving him.

Instead, she touched his hand as the only sign of comfort she could give him and said, ”You’re going to be all right, Leo,” she said gently, none of the worry and fear that she felt apparent on her face. It wouldn’t do to freak out when the boy was already terrified himself. So she kept her voice steady, and tried not to shake, the cold now being the least of her worries. It was terror that was wracking her body at the moment. Through the plain fear in her mind, she registered the fact that it was her fault that he was in this position. But that didn’t matter. It didn’t even matter that people were around, looking on nervously, not knowing what to do. All that mattered was that he was seriously hurt. ”An ambulence is on the way, the’re going to take you to the hospital.” Nell brushed her hair behind her ear as it fell into her face, lips red and dry from the cold. She felt like she was frozen in so many ways, and his hand was cold too. ”You’ll be all right.” She didn’t ask him why he pushed her out of the way or what he was thinking—now wasn’t the time for those questions. She could ask them at the hospital, when he was better, because she was positive they’d make it there.

[DAYONE LEO TYLER]

It's funny what can happen in a split second. Lot's of things can happen in a split second. A baby can be created in a split second, a first kiss can be gained in a split second. Such gigantic things can happen in that tiny time frame. What happened to Leo only took a second, it only took him a second to save his friend, it only took a second for the car to hit him. Things like these, were also things that could happen in a second. Leo didn't know what happened. He didn't feel anything that happened, his memory went from pushing Nell away, to lying face up on the tarmac. He could vaguely remember the car that hit him, he wondered what it look liked now. His aunt had hit a deer once (which got away ) and the front was smashed in. Leo weighed less than that deer, but maybe he got a dent in it. How morbid a sense of humor he had. His eyes glanced over at Nell, his head didn't move as he had wanted it to, so he could only just see her. She was sitting up, good, she was alright, he saved her, he did something with his life that he could be proud of. It might be the last thing he can do to be proud of.

"H-hey." He managed to say, it didn't hurt to talk, it didn't hurt to move his lips. Nothing was broken there then huh? He gave her a smile. So she was fine, that was good then, that was the whole reason why he jumped out into the street. He did it to save her so she wouldn't die, so she'd be happy. If he could shake his head at her reassurance, well he would, but he couldn't "I don't think so Nell." His voice said quietly, a heavy breath said with each word. He thought back, back to when his dad had snapped, he was scared, so scared, worried that he might die. So scared that he was going to die. Right now, he didn't feel that, he felt at peace. He understood that he was going to die, the chance he would survive was slim, very slim. He could feel death waiting for him, waiting close by. He felt the cold come close, but not yet, he wanted to talk, just a little longer, just to speak to Nell one last time.

"Nell," He said glancing the sliver ring on her hand as she brushed a strand of hair from her face, "congrats." He said with an expression of happiness on his face, the muscles in his face still worked, that was good right? "Nell, have I ever told you," he paused to cough, "that I am so happy, you were my friend?" It was a confession, he never had before, he truly was happy, and thankful that she was his friend. She was tough, and yet still so kind and bubbly. She was the opposite of him, and he looked up to her. She was a dear friend of his . He coughed again, breathing was getting harder to do, but he still wasn't done yet, he still had more words to say, he still had time left. "I don't think I'll make it this time." Leo said he didn't remember if he told her about his parents, maybe he did, maybe he didn't, but that's what he meant by this time, and he probably wasn't going to. He guessed that there was already too much damage in his body, but he didn't feel any of it. He was grateful that the body had that survival technique, it made him last as long as possible. Maybe it would hold out until he died, he knew a story of a woman breaking her leg and not feeling it for days until she got help. He looked up at Nell, and had a request, "Nell can you, put my head in your lap?" He coughed before explaining, "My, mom, used to do it for me, when I... When I was hurt."

[NELL DOE DALE]

Nell hadn’t actually expected him to speak, didn’t know whether or not he was capable of it. He is, she thought sharply, not wanting to consider even more injury. No. He was going to be all right. Her optimism shone through in these situations, especially since she could feel the life in it, through his hand, the fact that he was responding… He was alive. That was all she needed at this point to be reassured. His next words, however, crushed her hope in the cruellest way. Because if he didn’t believe it himself, it would be easier for him to just slip away. He’ll be fine. She needed to believe her own words. “Don’t say that,” she said, her voice still unaffected by her concern. Instead, she sounded like a scolding mother. “Don’t touch that curling iron, don’t let your little brother out of your sight, don’t think you’re going to die when you aren’t.” ”Don’t even think it. Just trust me.” His breathing was affected, but she tried not to focus on that, tried not to focus on the desperation that was slowly joining her other emotions as clarity regarding the situation became known. He was hurt so, so badly. Why did he have to be hurt like that?

She followed his gaze to the ring on her finger, a smile managing to come to her face, even though it wasn’t all there. It was still her smile. ”Thank you,” she murmured. He seemed happy about that. She wanted to believe that she’d see that happiness again, that she’d see him smile in the hospital and after recovery because it was so rare to see that expression on his face. He was so quiet, so withdrawn, his smiles were like small treasures. She didn’t want to think of death as a result of this. Death meant never watching movies with him again, never trying to help him with his bullies, never folding origami with him. Death meant the loss of everything that was Leo Maron. She didn’t want to lose him. With his next words her breath was a struggle to came out, and she made a small noise. ”What are you on about?” she said, her voice strained. She didn’t want him to talk like that. Those weren’t normal words, it wasn’t something one acknowledged on a normal day. She understood exactly what those words were for, they were for the deathbed. This cold, black street would not be his deathbed. She wouldn’t allow it to be. ”I am your friend. Always will be.” She acknowledged in a small part of her that meant even beyond death. But no, she meant that when he got better, that she’d be there, and she would smile for him just so she could see him smile back. Just so she could know that he was okay, and that he was going to rise above all the shit life had put him through.

She hated what his words implied, hated them like she so rarely hated anything else. He hadn’t died before, he wasn’t going to die now. That was her determination. He was going to get through this. He always did. He was a survivor. He was like her. No matter what life handed to them, they lived through it. They took it and they dealt with it, and it made them stronger in the end. Being hit by a car can’t make you stronger. The thought was so out of place and ironic that it almost made a hysteric, nervous laugh bubble forth. But it didn’t. She was still upholding the image of strength. Nell bit her lip, met his eyes. ”I don’t want to move you, Leo,” she said a bit breathlessly. She was still aware of the cold, the snow seeping into the knees of her jeans, her body covered in bumps. ”Your back and neck might be hurt.” By now, though, she had come to terms with a fact as cold as the atmosphere around her—the ambulence was taking to long. He was bleeding, and most likely internally too. Nothing she could do could stop it, and it was the powerlessness of that fact that made her want to do something for him. She wanted to give him some form of comfort, even if that meant she couldn’t save him like she wanted to. Gingerly, she took his head and moved forward as she lifted it so she could gently lay it on her legs. Her hand pressed against his forhead, moved up and pushed his hair back. ”I’m so sorry,” she whispered, and there were a lot of things she could be sorry for in this moment. There was a lot of regret. But she didn’t want him to go through this alone, without anyone who loved him.

[DAYONE LEO TYLER]

He listened to her words, and he knew, even if he didn't believe, didn't think it, didn't say it, it would still happen. He knew his time was up, but he was still there, he would make his time last, make his last few words important. He hoped he could tell her things honestly, it would be nice, these were probably his last moments anyway. He gave her a grin, he seemed to be having a lot of those right now, his oh so rare smile was coming now in his last few moments. Like stumbling upon a diamond mine only to find out the mine was filled with gas that would slowly poison you as you stayed to mine the diamonds. And then you found out the diamonds you mined were slowly poisoning you also. Such a rare thing, and it was in the most deadly circumstance. "Nell I'll always trust you." He said softly, his breathing more labored now. He gazed up at his friend, a question running to the forefront of his mind, "Are you alright?" He asked implying if she was injured. He hoped she wouldn't, it would make him sad if she was. Sad that he had failed to save her. "I faced danger Nell, I didn't run away," He coughed again during the sentence, wracking his lungs," I was brave, I just didn't know, danger would be this bad." His voice was quiet, filled with pride and bravery. He was ready to face what lay behind the blinding light, ready to walk towards it, but not just yet.

He gave her a small smile, his strength waning. He wished he could be there for her big day, be there and celebrate. He hoped he wasn't being selfish if he wanted her to remember that he was still there, just, not in body. He was never a spiritual boy, his aunt was Christian, and he so were his parents, but he hadn't really believed in God all that much. He hoped that wouldn't be a big thing when he got back, if he really was the forgiving Father, then He'd let Leo in right? He'd miss Nell, watching movies, and folding origami, which reminded him of her sister, "Your sister folded origami right?" His voice was softer now, but he was letting go yet, still one to be beat up day after day, his strength had grown and was still clinging on to life. His eyes grew tired, and slowly his blinks became slower, "Hey, maybe you'll see me like in Lion King." He said with a laugh that ended in coughs. He smiled that she'd always be his friend, and he decided to divulge more and open up one last time. They say a true person's character is revealed in their last moments of life, what would Leo's be like? "Nell, you and Josh were the brightest points in my life, you kept me from taking my own life. I'm glad that I could give it, so yours could live." A noble heart underneath his cowardliness, if only he had time to shed the cowards cloak, reveal his Lion's heart. But life can be a cruel thing, life can take away as much as it can give. His eyes closed, but he continued to breath, deciding he wanted to remember Nell smiling at him, putting on a brave face, his own lips turned into a smile. He would use the energy that it took to see, and use it so he could continue to speak, if he could.

Leo appreciated what his friend did for him, fill out his last request. Memories of his mom came surging up, when he scraped his knee, or bumped his head, when he cried and hurt, she would do this, and stroke his hair, it was comforting to him. He felt, at home, relaxed. His ears able to hear well after years of being on the lookout for bullies heard the distant sirens of an approaching ambulance. But Leo knew it was too late, they wouldn't make it. A single tear came out of the corner of his eye, but this was not a tear of sadness, not a tear of regret, just a tear of happiness, a tear that came from joy, that came from love. He was not alone, and he, he had no words for it."Thank you Nell." His words were but a whisper now, his breathing slower, more labored. The ambulance was just around the corner. Leo smiled, he heard the voices of his family, he heard another voice, a smaller quieter one. He thought he recognized this voice, or maybe it just fit with the picture he had seen. The one of the small girl, that was with Nell. It was her sister right? It was one last favor he could do for Nell. He spoke, one last time, "Nell, I'll tell your sister you said 'Hi'" His voice was so soft it was barely audible. The ambulance was in their street now, and it came to a halt coming for Leo. But it was too late, he took his last breath, savored it, then exhaled departing off into the light.

[NELL DOE DALE]

Nell hated to see him suffering, to listen as his lungs struggle to take in the oxygen he needed. Why did he have to suffer like this? She wanted to be able to do something for him to make it easier, but what was there? She wasn’t God. She couldn’t breathe life back into him. But if she could, she would. She’d sacrifice herself just so he could have another chance. But it was him who did the sacrificing. And it wasn’t fair because his life was worth more than his. She laughed, the sound bordering on nervous hysterics, when he asked if she was all right. He was asking her? ”Yeah..yeah, thanks to you.” It was slowly dawning on her, the fact that she would be in Leo’s situation right now if he hadn’t stepped in. She would prefer it that way, she really would. It was her fault, after all, and so she obviously deserved it. ”Yes, you did,” she told him gently when he said that he’d faced danger. It was why most people turned face and ran. Like her. She ran from everything, she ran from her mother, and she ran from her family, and that was the only way she knew how to deal with things. Maybe it was her father who taught her how, she didn’t know. She just knew that she was going to stop running. She was going to take Leo’s example, and there’d be no more running.

The mention of her sister grabbed at her chest, and she took a minute to recover before nodding. Yes, she folded origami, the both of them had done it together, because Nell had told her of the legend and they both thought that it was her best chance. Because she couldn’t stand to hold Tilly again as she wailed and sobbed and said that she didn’t want to die, she didn’t want to die… And so the paper cranes were scattered around the room, and after the girl passed, Nell gathered them up and took them to the bathroom to burn as many as she could. What were they worth if the girl she had been folding them for was dead? ”Yeah, all right, Simba,” she said, her best attempt at joking. This wasn’t funny. Nothing about this was funny, but then again, she was realizing how he was slipping away. Why not laugh and joke? Why not be happy for a little bit? Nell listened when he admitted to the fact that she and Josh were the reasons that he didn’t take his life, they were his light. Just as Tilly had been her own, just as that girl had kept her from ever giving up, even in the years after she died. She didn’t know what she could say to that, because her words wouldn’t be able to match the gravity of everything that he was. She wanted to say that no, he didn’t give his life, that he still had it. But for how long? Nell had seen death twice before, she knew what it looked like.

And in the proper image of death, his eyes shut and she was gripping his shoulder, other hand on his head as if she could hold onto him, keep him from slipping away. Her finger wiped his cheek, drying the tear. She did not cry. She did not want the last thing Leo saw to be sadness. And it would be the last thing, because she had that feeling again, foreboding. Her breath caught when he spoke, though, and it was all she could do not to break down there. Her lips were trembling, she sucked them between her teeth to stop. Was there an afterlife? She didn’t want to believe in one for her, because she loved this world so much and it was enough for her. But she hoped there was something for Leo, and for Tilly, and for her mother, and for everyone who had their life taken from them too soon. The realization that Leo was gone, that in her hands was just a body and nothing more, left an ache in her chest. Because that smile was lost, and she would never be able to talk to him again, and she’d never see him at school or wave at him or ask him about his day… Leo was gone. The ambulence would take away a shell that the actual Leo had shed, and no matter how many times she experienced it, death was never easy. You never got used to it.