Boboiboy: Elemental Tales

To Learn To Fly

I present to you: a collection of Illness/Disability AU vignettes!

I saw a similar AU for the Kokotaim gang some time ago (sorry, can't remember where) and so this idea's been floating around in my head for a while. As usual, I focus on the relationships between the elemental siblings - which, in this case, translates to them just helping each other out. Yay, fluff!

Note that each vignette is set in a separate universe. That means that the siblings are perfectly healthy except in the vignette focusing on them.

Of course, since I have never experienced any of these conditions myself, there may be some inaccuracies. Please point them out if you spot them, and I'll do my best to correct them... but I'm really hoping those 15 hours of research paid off.

Warning: descriptions of illnesses, disabilities, etc. Obviously. ATTENTION: Mature content (suicidal thoughts). Oh, and there's a whole lot of irony.

***

Halilintar: paraplegia.

Paralysis of all or part of the trunk, legs, and pelvic organs, caused by damage to the spinal cord.

Like Solar, Halilintar is well-known for his speed. However, unlike Solar, who seems to teleport, we've clearly seen that Hali actually runs - so, no more running. I did say there would be a lot of irony...

The bell rang to signal the end of the period, and the students of Pulau Rintis Academy began to pack up their things for lunch.

Halilintar kept his eyes fixed firmly on his bag as he stowed his books away, trying not to think about the pitying looks the other students were undoubtedly sending him. He wished he could just escape them altogether, but no matter where he went in the school, the looks followed him, and it was really starting to grate on his nerves.

Honestly, you'd think they'd have gotten used to his new... condition after a week, but apparently not. Well, at least they weren't trying to help him with every little thing anymore, he supposed. Perks of being short-tempered.

In his annoyance, he grabbed the last book a bit too roughly. It slid out of his grip and landed with a thud on the floor, in the most awkward spot imaginable.

Before Halilintar could contemplate whether he was flexible enough to retrieve it, a hand bearing a golden-brown watch picked it up for him.

"Ignore them," Gempa advised, tucking the textbook into his bag, "They'll get used to it soon enough - and besides, they don't mean any harm."

"He's right, you know," Taufan said cheerfully as he popped out of thin air next to them and began to push the wheelchair in the direction of the cafeteria, "Besides, you've got us! What more than six brothers would you need, eh?"

"More like one brother and five annoyances," Halilintar grumbled, with less bite than he would have liked.

Taufan gasped theatrically.

"Hey, be grateful!" In retaliation, the red-and-black cap was snagged off of Halilintar's head and held out of his reach, "Why don't you get yourself to the cafeteria, then?!"

Gempa snatched the cap from Taufan and returned it to Halilintar, "Hmm, I don't know... how about because you practically begged to do it?"

Just then, Solar and Duri came out of the classroom door they were passing by.

"Before I could," Duri added with a pout, having obviously heard the tail end of their conversation.

Taufan and Duri then launched into a replay of their argument that day, each listing increasingly ridiculous reasons. Halilintar tuned them out, instead choosing to observe his more quiet brothers.