It's early when Denzel wakes up, and he's in an unfamiliar room. He reaches out for Lucky and then remembers that he gave the bear to Luca in the night. Oh, yes. He remembers now. This is Keaira's old room. Denzel turns over and sure enough, Caru is still asleep next to him. He wouldn't wake him yet. 


Climbing out of bed and rubbing at his tired eyes, he decides he'll visit Luca one last time before heading back home later. Denzel leaves the room quietly, avoiding to make too much noise that would disturb the others living here. Once at Luca's bedroom door, he lets himself in, closing the door behind him. "Good morning, Luca, Lucky." He smiles to himself and sits on the bed next to the other boy.  "It's a shame you're still not awake..." 


There Denzel sits for over an hour, just talking about anything he can think of, rubbing his thumb comfortingly over the back of Luca's hand as he holds it. Trust Denzel to sit with someone he's only met once and still show the amount of kindness expected from someone such as a best friend.  


"...And I've been told that bears in the wild aren't all that friendly. But I suppose that doesn't matter to me if they're scary. I don't think I'll ever meet one that isn't in a zoo anyway, so I don't have to worry about being attacked by one. I still think they're really cute..." The white haired boy looks down at the calm face of the other, sighing. "Luca, you have pretty eyes you know. You should open them. I know your family misses you very much."


"He gets his eyes from his mother. " Alois is standing, leaning up against the door, watching him. Denzel didn't even hear him come in. Had he really been talking that loudly? What if he woke Alois up? He'd probably be in trouble. "How long have you been with him?"


Denzel shrugs. He's never really been one for keeping time. It seem's Denzel has lost the ability to use his tongue around Alois. There was just something about the older blonde that was intimidating, so for the time being, he'd just stay quiet until he finds the courage to speak.


"I hear people think that he won't wake up at all-"


"He will." Denzel smiles at Alois. "If people go around saying that he isn't going to wake up, doesn't that mean they've pretty much given up on him and lost all hope?" He looks back down at Luca with a saddened expression. "If everyone gives up on Luca he'll see no point in waking up and he'll just give up on himself as well." Denzel pauses for a few seconds, thinking. "What if he wants to wake up? Maybe he just can't wake up because his sadness is pulling him down. Keep believing he'll get better and he will. He'll find his inner strength to pull through once he realises everyone is counting on him. Once he is aware that everyone cares about him more than he thought, he'll get better and return to those who love him the most."


Alois doesn't say anything for a while. He for one hadn't given up on his son yet, but given a few more days and he might have begun to feel hope slipping away. It seems odd to him for considering what this nine year old said could have some truth to it. "You barely know Luca. Why are you here with him, showing him so much consideration?" 


"I mostly go by first impressions of people and to me, Luca is a lovely boy. Everyone needs a friend to help them though the tough times and apparently Luca doesn't have a boyfriend or even many friends. I'm only doing what I hope someone would have done for me had  I been in his position. I've been keeping him company in case he is scared and frightened." Denzel giggles a little. "If he's not scared like I might be, then maybe I'm hoping he'll wake up just to give me a slap and to tell me to shut up and stop talking..."


Smiling a little at the thought, Alois opens the door. "I doubt he would. You should get back to Caru now. I'd prefer to sit with Luca for a few minutes on my own before walking Ajax." 


Denzel nods and leans over, giving Luca a quick kiss on the forehead. "Get better soon. Lucky, look after him." Hopping off the bed and wandering across the room he makes his way towards the door. "Tell Uncle Malmal not to give up on him either." He gives a little wave before skipping back down the hall towards Keaira's old room. He highly doubts Caru is even awake yet. Caru is a lazy boy who sleeps too much. Running into the room and jumping onto the bed, landing on the other boy, he starts shaking him. "Caru, wake up! I'm hungry. We have to go and get breakfast."