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Not a problem.

[Awful. Awful. Awful. Who did this to him, Akira wonders again, and not with benevolent intent.]

[—But he's got to keep a lid on it, because that's secondary in importance to making sure that Red is comfortable and okay. He thinks that pointing out the Pokémon was a good idea, considering the creatures mean a lot to him. But between his natural stoicism and whatever they have him drugged on to ease the pain, Red's not giving much in the way of a reply. So Akira moves closer to his bedside table and keeps talking.]

You should drink this.

[He holds up the cup of water, offering it for Red to take with his good hand. If he takes it.]

I know you feel like shit, but it'll help.

[Red stares at the cup. Come to think of it, when the nurse brought that water in, there was ice in it. Now, there isn't a single trace of any ice cubes left. Was he really zoned out for that long? He really doesn't want to move, but he knows he should... Even if part of himself keeps telling him otherwise, he needs to get better as quickly as possible. For his Pokémon's sake. Knowing that they're in the same room as him again, even if they're all inside their balls in Akira's pocket, gives him a boost of motivation.

Ever so slowly, Red uses his good hand to carefully push himself up, trying not to re-open any of his wounds or dislodge the IV drip in the process. Once he finally manages to sit up, he takes the cup from Akira's hand and takes a few sips. There's still some lingering coolness in the water, which makes it even more refreshing.

He lowers the cup, resting the base of it against his thigh and gaze focusing on Akira once more, looking a little more awake now. Akira probably doesn't want to just sit here in awkward silence, so... Red forces himself to talk again. Thankfully his voice has made a slight improvement as well.]

Did... Terry tell you?

[About him being here.]

The Pokémon found me and led me here, because they weren't allowed inside. You were asleep, so I tried to take care of them.

[Terry. His first instinct is to conclude that Terry did this, it's all Terry's fault, he did this, the squirrely little bastard — but no. He's just itching for a fight. If Terry did it, why would he ever think to tell Akira about Red in the first place? So a bystander, maybe. Maybe he was hurt in the dungeon. Actually, that seems likely. If no one was around to heal... but wouldn't Red have woken up the next morning?]

[Akira sits down, heavily, taking care not to sit on any of the Pokéballs. Letting Charizard out right now would be a fucking mess.]

If you feel well enough... can you tell me what happened?

[He's trying not to sound too much like he wants to know who to throttle.]

[Honestly, Red doesn't really want to tell him, but... he supposes that it would be better for Akira to hear it from him than from Terry. So he gives a single nod and takes another sip of water, staring down into the cup as he speaks reluctantly and slowly.]

...Um... in the castle, Amarok... my Persona... he just appeared behind me and started attacking me. Terry came in soon after. He and my Pokémon were trying to rescue me, and... I guess I passed out... and woke up here.

[It all happened so quickly that his shocked and severely fatigued brain could barely keep up with it all. Sorry he can't provide many more details than that, but well. Akira can clearly see what kind of wounds Amarok inflicted on him.]

Am—

[For a time, Akira is stunned into silence, looking at Red with genuine fear behind his glasses. It's not a face he wears very often — he actively tries to avoid it whenever he can. But... what... wha...]

...

[What does that even mean? Was something taking Amarok out of Red's control? Or. (If such a thing is possible, Akira now looks even more scared.) Or. Is Red actually in such a state, mentally, where his Persona is trying to tear him down? Is that what the inside of his head looks like?]

[Akira winds a hand into his hair, and starts spinning locks of it between his fingers.]

Red, that's...

[Red's in no state to work through it now. But even beyond the damage his body sustained, he's obviously not okay.]

...That shouldn't be happening.

We're going to fix it. Not right now. But later. Okay?

[Hearing Akira cut himself off like that, Red quickly looks up at him with concern. The look on his face causes a pit to form in Red's stomach. He already had a pretty good idea of what the significance of his Persona attacking him like that was, but Akira's face confirms it. This is why he didn't want to tell him. He shouldn't be freaking out this much over someone like Red...

A flash of pain runs through his head. No. Stop that. He winces and lowers his head again.]

How...?

[How does Akira plan on fixing this?]

Well firstly you're going to talk to Amarok. Me and Arsène will be there.

Either that, or...

[Augh, he didn't want to say it like this, but Red asked what his plan is and Akira doesn't think it's gonna help anyone to lie to him.]

...Or we figure out what inside you made him want to hurt you so much.

[So... he basically needs to overcome his inner issues, huh? Red was hoping that there would be an easier solution than that. Of course it wouldn't be that easy. He frowns.]

...I... I know what it is. So, I'll... take care of this myself.

[After all, the only person who can truly help you anyway is yourself, right?]

What is it then?

[Akira doesn't sound aggressive, but he's not going to back down here.]

I'm not leaving you by yourself. Not like this.

[Red just... goes quiet, staring sadly into his water cup. Explaining the dark, shameful part of himself to Akira... He absolutely can't do that. No way. He's not ready for that. He wouldn't even know where to begin.

After a long while, he just shakes his head. Sorry, buddy.]

[ ... ]

Alright.

[He doesn't want to do this. Leaving it in Red's hands alone is a bad idea -- but Akira's only thinking that, he knows, because he's scared for the smaller boy's wellbeing, and wants to take all the responsibility upon himself when really it's not his place at all.]

Just... be careful, Red, okay?

I don't-- I don't want to lose you, and neither do they.

[Meaning, of course, Red's partners.]

[Akira... Red feels so bad that he's making his friend this worried over him, but that's all the more reason he needs to overcome this, right? Running away, or doing something even more permanent, will just make Akira and Red's Pokémon suffer more. The only way for all of them to be happy is for Red to come to terms with all the negativity he feels towards himself and make it better so they won't have to worry about him anymore. He still isn't confident that he's up to such a daunting task, but...]

...I'll... I'll try.

[He's starting to get tired, so he sets his cup back on the table and lays down on his side again.]

[Akira stands up. He moves over to Red's bedside, waits a second -- like he's interacting with a cat, to let Red know what his intentions are -- and then gently reaches a hand onto Red's head. Somewhere without bandages. He would do the shoulder or the arm, but he can't, for obvious reasons. If Red flinches or shows any sign of pain, he'll take it off immediately.]

You don't have to do this alone.

Just tell me you understand that.

[There are fractures in his voice. He's trying really hard to sound firm and strong.]

I know it might seem like doing this by yourself is the only option. Easier to cut out the middleman, easier to hide everything from everyone, easier to look strong so that no one will doubt you or worry about you.

But you don't have to do it alone.

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