[ What does she say? What can she say? There's probably no way that anything she could come up with would make it better, not when he's talking about being drugged and-- hurt. ]
[ It occurs to her, not for the first time, that their team back home had had it relatively easy. The only real corrupt adult that they'd dealt with had been Mikuriya, and his target had been Rion and Rion alone. Akira had dealt with a politician who had shoved all blame on him, people so awful that they'd needed a forceful change of heart, and now brutality from a force that was supposed to protect the public?
She's not sure if it's the fever or her anger at the unfairness of it all that's making her feel so heated, but even if she's never heard him sound so furiously bitter before-- there's no way Rion could blame him for feeling that way. So quietly, if just to avoid triggering a cough-- ]
[he keeps his hair pinned back as he exhales deeply, forcing some of that bitterness down into the annals of his heart where it belongs. where he keeps it when it isn't appropriate to let it free]
[ So it's fine. They're both burning up and clearly unwell and more than anything at that moment, Rion wants to find these police assholes and make them regret it--
But she can't. And as much as it makes her seethe that she can't, because of how Akira's suffered, she has to accept that much and that's why Rion shifts and lifts herself up slightly. The cloth falls off to the side when she reaches to brush her fingers over that scar.
There's a pause, as she waits to make sure the dizziness won't get the best of her, or a cough won't escape, but then she leans in and presses a gentle kiss to the scar. It's brief and light, and she draws back shortly after. ]
You never deserved that. But I'm sure you knew that already.
[the way his breath hitches in his throat when her lips brush up against the line of that scar is totally her imagination. totally! (no it isn't)]
[he doesn't comment on whether he deserved it or not, because she's right. he already knows that he didn't. and there was a point to him telling her about this, anyway]
That's why I'm afraid of needles.
[though "afraid" may not be quite right. he isn't sure. but every time he sees one, he finds himself instinctively stiffening, back going taut and heart hammering in his chest in a way that leaves him breathless. and not the good kind of breathless. it's like his fight or flight response goes into overdrive, and both instincts are so strong that he can't quite choose between them]
It happened a long time ago, but I'm still not. . .
[ wow, she hopes that didn't actually hurt him, that'd be terrible--
But she thinks he gets it, what he's trying to tell her. It's how he's chosen to tell her that brings up a rush of affection from somewhere deeper than "because he's being cute" or "because I like talking to him". He didn't have to tell her. It was clearly still an incredibly painful and bitter memory for him, and Rion's a little overwhelmed at the fact that he'd brought it up on his own.
It's not something she ever wanted him to empathize with, and even if the situations are different and she could largely shove down her own deep-rooted worry that something would go wrong again, and it would be her fault--
Some instincts can't be hidden completely. She'd still tensed up with earthquakes, too. ]
It's... funny, huh?
[ Rion flops down onto her side again, mustering a small, frail smile that soon fades as she continues. ]
We do our best to be strong and not worry anyone, and we have good memories to draw on, but sometimes the bad ones... really dig their claws in. No matter how much we want to shove them down.
[nnnnno it definitely wasn't pain he was feeling. . . . . ]
[he shifts onto his side as well, and the now-warm cloth drops onto the bed between them when he does so]
Yeah.
[he won't deny that. in his experience, it's true. he's seen it first hand with his Phantom Thieves-- with Ryuji, Ann, Yusuke, Makoto, Futaba, Haru-- and even his non-thief Confidants]
But again, that's what I'm here for. So you don't have to face them alone.
[ Rion has to turn her head and bring one sleeve up as her laugh transitions rather painfully into a wheeze of a cough, but she's still smiling once she lowers her arm. ]
You can kiss me once we both look and feel about five times better. I'll take a rain check.
[ She'll be honest, the idea of falling back into nightmares just does not sound appealing to her right now. But she's also exhausted, so it's up in the air as to which one will win out. ]
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[ What does she say? What can she say? There's probably no way that anything she could come up with would make it better, not when he's talking about being drugged and-- hurt. ]
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Some people in power can't stand it when a teenager is better at catching criminals than they are.
[his words are sharp enough to cut through leather, full of bitterness that Rion has only seen flashes of up until now]
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She's not sure if it's the fever or her anger at the unfairness of it all that's making her feel so heated, but even if she's never heard him sound so furiously bitter before-- there's no way Rion could blame him for feeling that way. So quietly, if just to avoid triggering a cough-- ]
Those bastards.
[ And, staring at that tiny scar... ]
Can I...?
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I have a fever.
[that part is said lightly, but. . .]
. . . but you can, if you want.
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[ So it's fine. They're both burning up and clearly unwell and more than anything at that moment, Rion wants to find these police assholes and make them regret it--
But she can't. And as much as it makes her seethe that she can't, because of how Akira's suffered, she has to accept that much and that's why Rion shifts and lifts herself up slightly. The cloth falls off to the side when she reaches to brush her fingers over that scar.
There's a pause, as she waits to make sure the dizziness won't get the best of her, or a cough won't escape, but then she leans in and presses a gentle kiss to the scar. It's brief and light, and she draws back shortly after. ]
You never deserved that. But I'm sure you knew that already.
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[he doesn't comment on whether he deserved it or not, because she's right. he already knows that he didn't. and there was a point to him telling her about this, anyway]
That's why I'm afraid of needles.
[though "afraid" may not be quite right. he isn't sure. but every time he sees one, he finds himself instinctively stiffening, back going taut and heart hammering in his chest in a way that leaves him breathless. and not the good kind of breathless. it's like his fight or flight response goes into overdrive, and both instincts are so strong that he can't quite choose between them]
It happened a long time ago, but I'm still not. . .
[he trails off]
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But she thinks he gets it, what he's trying to tell her. It's how he's chosen to tell her that brings up a rush of affection from somewhere deeper than "because he's being cute" or "because I like talking to him". He didn't have to tell her. It was clearly still an incredibly painful and bitter memory for him, and Rion's a little overwhelmed at the fact that he'd brought it up on his own.
It's not something she ever wanted him to empathize with, and even if the situations are different and she could largely shove down her own deep-rooted worry that something would go wrong again, and it would be her fault--
Some instincts can't be hidden completely. She'd still tensed up with earthquakes, too. ]
It's... funny, huh?
[ Rion flops down onto her side again, mustering a small, frail smile that soon fades as she continues. ]
We do our best to be strong and not worry anyone, and we have good memories to draw on, but sometimes the bad ones... really dig their claws in. No matter how much we want to shove them down.
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[he shifts onto his side as well, and the now-warm cloth drops onto the bed between them when he does so]
Yeah.
[he won't deny that. in his experience, it's true. he's seen it first hand with his Phantom Thieves-- with Ryuji, Ann, Yusuke, Makoto, Futaba, Haru-- and even his non-thief Confidants]
But again, that's what I'm here for. So you don't have to face them alone.
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[ It's said a little hesitantly, like Rion is still absolutely not used to burdening other people with her problems.
Because she's not. It's a work in progress, for sure. ]
And... you don't have to, either. If you're going to be here for me, I want to do the same.
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I'd kiss you if I wasn't really gross right now.
[JUST BEING HONEST]
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You can kiss me once we both look and feel about five times better. I'll take a rain check.
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[Akira]
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[ Akira, dang. ]
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[SUGGESTIVELY]
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Eleven it is.
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[ Such well-behaved teens. ]
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It'll have to do. As long as you don't mind that I've coughed a ton into my palm.
[this is so gross]
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Gonna have to try harder than that.
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[he wordlessly links his fingers with hers, smiling all the while]
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She does appear to be in better spirits, at least. ]
Think you can rest a little now?
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[running his thumb over her knuckles]
Think you can, too?
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[ She'll be honest, the idea of falling back into nightmares just does not sound appealing to her right now. But she's also exhausted, so it's up in the air as to which one will win out. ]
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