The next hour or so between Orion and Albel was spent conversing about simple things. How each of them spent their lives before they met. They talked about their families, hobbies, everything they could think of. By the time they decided to head back and check on Roxas, Orion found out Albel had a younger brother and they were both raised by their single father; their mother had passed five or so years ago. The other learned the ghost only had both parents around with no siblings.

As always accompanied with long conversations, they soon found the sun threatening to set. "We should check on Roxas before calling it a night." Some would consider it a violation of privacy if visited so often by a friend or well, anyone. However with Roxas, unfortunately these daily checkups were needed when his family were busy and unable to keep close eye on him.

Soon enough both men exited the park-Albel with a little more speed than expected as Orion did his best to keep up. It was odd to him how rushed he seemed. Was everything alright? What should he expect once they make way again into the house? A murder? Perhaps the easily irritated male finally lost it and went off his rocker?

The answer was neither.

As they arrived and stood outside the front door they were met with violent noises; ones that sounded similar to a cat hacking up a giant hairball but worse and humanized.

Quickly Albel forced open the door and found exactly what he was afraid to see.

On the floor of the hallway, Roxas balanced with his knees on the floor and a hand covering his mouth as he violently coughed into it. Between coughs, the blond wheezed while trying to collect whatever nearby air into his lungs to no prevail.

"Shit." Was Albel's only response before, one hand fumbled with his device to input the emergency number while pulling his friend into his free arm. "Breathe. I know it may be difficult but dammit I need you to try." Beneath him, Roxas tried his absolute best to comply yet his body refused to do as he wished. "Come on. Deep breaths. Orion help me out here!"

"Yes sir!" His answer was unheard but felt necessary as he swooped in close and placed both his hands to the frail males shoulders.

"I'm no doctor, but I'm pretty sure humans need to breathe to live. So uh, you should do that!" It was a poor attempt at comedy but this was how he himself coped with difficult situations. Weakly smiling, he placed both his hands around his companions. "I can guarantee dying isn't a fun thing, so breathe for me. Here, I'll try with you. One, breathe in!" Taking the biggest inhale of air he could, Orion puffed up his cheeks and refused to let go until Roxas took his own shaky intake of air. "And now exhale." All in one puff of air, the bubble was released from his cheeks. Slowly Roxas followed suit. "Good! Now, keep that up!" He encouraged.

Beside them, Albel impatiently waited until his call was picked up and he was able to ask for an ambulance. "Hi, I need an ambulance as soon as possible. Yes this is to the same address as the other times. Yes the same reason. Yes, he's still conscious and for the time breathing. Thank you again." This was a common incident; enough to the point the ones in charge of emergency calls knew him by voice and situation.

Albel somehow was able to keep his cool through the panic while Orion frantically jolted around. He would touch Roxas on his shoulders, hands, forehead, even chest to make absolutely sure his new found friend was still breathing.

Through his labored breaths, the blond found strength to both smile, and reach towards the panicked ghost and hover a hand where his cheek soon froze into place. “I’ll be fine, simmer down even for just a second there. I know you’re worried but really...I’m-” With that his eyes fluttered shut.

He only fell unconscious but this still urged Orion to resume his panic as help finally came and he was brought into the awaiting ambulance. All things considered, his whole day was just full of adventure and events that his body couldn’t keep up and broke down due to stress.

Yet not one bit did Roxas regret it. Despite not knowing Orion for very long, and only re-meeting him today, it meant all the world and more to him to make another friend, and that he would have another being to share however long he had left with.

He could have a chance to spark a relationship for his best friend, whether it be friendship or more. Albel deserved everything and more. And he wanted nothing more than to help push him further.

He owed him so much after all these years.

"He has lung cancer." After perhaps an hour at the least of straight silence-Orion forgot his whiteboard, Albel spoke. The question was never asked nor did it need to be. Slumped over in a chair situated beside the hospital bed, the brunet deeply sighed into the palms of his hands.

Orion, who had been fiddling with a nearby vase of flowers froze in place. It was like he was brought back to life and the shock killed him all over again. Even though he himself was made of cool air he could feel chills run down his spine.

How?

Why?

Why did it have to be him? Roxas was only what, just over twenty? He had his whole life ahead of him. Was this why he was only now able to see him? Was Roxas inching closer to his last days? But they only just met again! He had so much he wanted to do together!

The friendship he never properly knew was being ripped away from his grasp as soon as he latched on.

"He's within the last stages of it. Who knows how much longer he has. I...the scene from earlier is a weekly occurrence. I could probably name each nurse here by name. He was diagnosed as a child but I don't think this has properly set in for any of us until fairly recently." Albel forced out as tears threatened to escape his eyes. "I don't even know if you're here or not." He forced out a laugh. "For all I know I could be talking to myself. I want to believe you're here though...I could use a hug."

A hug he received as Orion zipped straight over and enveloped the other in a tight embrace. Although he could not make proper contact, with a little concentration the cool air laid across Albel held just a smidgen of pressure to it; allowing him to feel as if he wasn't alone.

Which he was not.

All Orion wanted from this moment on was to spend every waking moment with his friends to make every new day the best it could.

Not at all what he had originally planned but who really even knew what the future held.