middleofsomewhere | Final: Blue and Purple

Final: Blue and Purple

Blue: A Call to Arms

On the sixth night (G10) since arriving in the Gry coves the fighting is the heaviest than it has been all week. What’s more anyone who tries to sleep that day or night will find their dreams are the clearest yet. Darkness, downward tunnels, fear yes but a clear calling. A draw. A call for help. A cry to arms.

The caverns are a flurry of activity but by the morning (G11) the elders address the cove. It is clear. The Burrower wishes them to descend. Furthermore if the aliens have been having dreams as well then it is clear that they are invited.

Not all can go of course, the caverns still need defending. But any who wish to may. The morning is spent preparing for the descent, or rather making sure that there are still defenders of the caverns and that everything is in order for them to descend.

Purple: A Plan for Aid

The fighting is still thick and fast but the morning of the seventh day (G11) brings another flurry of activity. The teenagers who had been growing restless all week can be found gathering in groups.

If approached by anyone who isn’t a Terran adult they will let them in on the secret. The Gry were going down to the dweller. The Gry dream forums have been full of Gry teens talking about this, worried their god is in danger. Worried they are in danger and going down there will mean certain death.

So of course the Terran want to help and their adults have not been listening. They have found one of the entrances that they believe will go down into the dwellers domain. They plan to strike out by noon and won’t say no to any one who wants to go with them.

It’s a steep entrance, going almost vertically down into the darkness below. They are pretty certain it leads to the dweller.

Meanwhile the monsters are still attacking the city with increasing numbers and almost every Terran is engaged in some level of fighting.

The Descent (Please specify team colour.)

The tunnels down from both the Gry coves and the Terran tunnels are steep. Even the Gry and Terran themselves struggle with the descent and voidtreckers will definitely need to use climbing equipment. It takes most of the day and into the evening to climb down. The air is dry and thin the further down they get but their SCA keeps them going.

The Terran and Gry have no such technology but they are better acclimatised. It’s a long climb down through the darkness.

Meanwhile... (Please specify team colour.)

For those that don’t descend there is still plenty to do. Monsters are still attacking, though as night falls they dwindle, as they begin to rush down to the cavern below. Still there are pockets of monsters around that need dealing with.

Parts of both tunnel systems are in need of repair. Down in the Terran tunnels the areas that had been collapsed still need a lot of work, though all the citizens have been rescued. The Gry systems are less structurally damaged but they are a mess and the clean up operation will take a while.

Deep Dweller

Finally the dark downward descent leads into a huge cavern. In the centre of the cavern there is a large, grey creature easily filling the space. It looks almost like a grub, if a huge one. It is hard to ascertain if it has eyes or a mouth even but it moves, slowly up and down as if it is breathing.

The elder Gry make respectful gestures towards it, the younger ones follow suit, a little more hesitantly. The Terran teenagers mostly seem some mixture of horrified and amazed.

There are four large entrances to the cavern, the two that the two groups came down and two other large ones from elsewhere. There are also numerous small ones, high and low in the walls. The two groups arrive at roughly the same time and it is not long before they have company…

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He looks just about ready to attempt to haul Gerome up after getting permission, but then he stops the moment Gerome continues to speak. Especially when he says those words.. and with that very, very small weak smile on his face. The tone honestly doesn't matter. Just Gerome saying those words, especially at a moment where he's so incredibly vulnerable.. It makes Inigo's heart stop for a moment. How could he let Gerome down after hearing that?

Inigo steels himself, trying to sound as confident as possible (even though he doesn't feel confident at all) as he nods and speaks up again.

".. Don't worry. I will get you out of here."

And right after he says that, he does pull up Gerome. He can't imagine it being pleasant for the other with how much he seems to be in pain, but it's the better alternative compared to letting him lie there. Inigo clasps Gerome's hand that's on his shoulder to keep it there, and once the other is relatively upright, he moves his other arm to hold Gerome's hip, making sure it's above the spot with all the blood so he isn't accidentally touching his wound.

It's tough, trying to move Gerome like this while trying to make sure he isn't being too rough about it, but Inigo is really trying. Sweat starts to form on his forehead as he keeps moving, but he doesn't care. He isn't even thinking about it. Instead he just looks around them as he moves, trying to find a spot away from debris, rocks and half-standing buildings - basically anything that could be a new rockslide hazard.

He manages to find an open spot without any of it, but by the time he's dragged Gerome over there and helps put him down, Inigo feels like he's been wandering for ages rather than the few minutes it's probably been. And yet he doesn't stop to rest - instead he's already sitting down next to Gerome, staring at his red thigh. That really doesn't look like it could wait until he can find a healer. Or until after Inigo goes to fetch Gerome's mask. Or until after he releases all this pent up emotion that's lingering inside of his chest now. He has to force himself to focus for a little bit more - for Gerome's sake. For the sake of his trust.

Inigo reaches out to gently touch the thigh, giving it a stare.

"Can you.. Can you still feel your leg?" Because they've got a whole different magnitude of problem on their hands if he can't.

Pleasant was not a word that Gerome would have used for the feeling he got when Inigo pulled him up. If he had seen stars before, now all he saw was the deep, darkness of the universe as his head spun and for a second he thought he might actually pass out. Luckily for what little pride he still had left, he didn't scream. He did, however, make some small sound despite his best efforts...

Once up he was able to get his legs under him. It was then that he realised that there was something very wrong with his right leg and it wouldn't hold his weight without pain. He couldn't work out why. His left leg was holding him up as much as it could however.

And then they were moving. Gerome tried to hop at first. Realised what a bad idea that was when a wave of nausea and pain nearly had him on his knees, so he used his bad leg as well. Limping with Inigo holding him up was not efficient, but it got them moving away from what could easily have been Gerome's tomb.

How long they walked, Gerome had no idea... seconds, minutes... hours? It could have been days for all he knew. But once Inigo had set him down, Gerome's eyes immediately closed. His breathing was quick and shallow, too afraid to take a deep breath because of the pain in his chest. His right leg felt like it was on fire, and it was wet... In fact the whole of him was wet. Inigo wasn't the only one who who was covered in a fine sheen of sweat, it ran down from Gerome's hairline leaving tracks in the dust covering his face.

"..."

He really, really wanted to call Inigo an idiot for asking such a question. But Gerome stopped himself. If Inigo was asking, then there was more wrong with his leg than just the wet fire...

"... I can feel it..." He panted out, voice low. "... I wish I couldn't..."

"Alright.." He answers, though sounding confident is really hard to keep up when he's this freaked out. Inigo is already starting to slip, the second time he repeats the word already having much more worry in it. "Alright.."

At least he can feel it. That's good. It's less good in the sense that Gerome has pain, but honestly, better to have pain than to completely have lost all function forever in that leg! At least this is something that should be able to be healed - it's just that Inigo knows he has to do something about that blood first before Gerome lost too much of it. At least the other is still talking rather than passed out, so it can't have been too much yet.

.. But that makes the question arise of how he's going to take care of the wound. He doesn't have bandages. His bag and other belongings are pretty far from here. That only leaves one option to use as covering for the wound, and before Inigo gives himself enough time to think about it, he's already moving to rip his uniform's shirt at the bottom until he has torn off enough to practically turn his shirt into a crop top. Sure, he's super shy about showing skin, and possibly even shyer about some of his scars being visible now.. But he knows his dignity and shame matter so, so very little in comparison to Gerome's life.

He puts his hand back on Gerome's leg, well aware this is going to be a not-too-pleasant experience for the other as well. Especially since he's going to have to tie it tightly enough to keep the most of rest of his blood in.

".. Grit your teeth for few seconds."

Gerome did say he trusts him, right? Then hopefully he'll trust him now too instead of asking what he's about to do. Maybe he's caught on already to begin with despite not being able to see the wound, considering it's not like Inigo was tearing up his clothes for nothing here.

It was the sound of tearing that had Gerome tiredly opening his eyes to try and work out what in the world Inigo was doing. If there had been blood in his body to spare, he might well have blushed. It looked for all the world like Inigo was just... tearing his clothes off. Why? Why of all times was he choosing to do that? Gerome opened his mouth to ask, but no sound came out...

Gerome felt a hand on his leg and hissed softly, eyes closing again.

No, he didn't want to see what was going on down there or what Inigo had planned with his torn clothes. He had an idea and that was bad enough. So he nodded.

"... Do it... Just... just do it..." Talking about it wasn't doing him any favours. Get it over with quick and he could get to passing out with as much of his own dignity intact as he could.

~~Yes, Gerome, your torn up defeated pose is just so sexy, he can't resist! That's clearly why Inigo is tearing off his clothes over here!~~

Fortunately Inigo does get to it immediately after Gerome tells him to just do it. With Inigo there's always the temptation to start to babble, especially when he's feeling particularly nervous about something like right now.. but for Gerome's sake he's forcing himself to focus. So he moves Gerome's leg up a little so he can tie the ripped off cloth as well as he can wrap it around the wound. It makes Inigo's hand messy with blood too, but he doesn't really care. If there's anything Inigo is used to - for worse, definitely for worse - it's the feeling of blood all over his hands anyway.

So that's not a problem as he ties off the cloth. He's more just worried about the pain this will no doubt cause his friend, but.. it's for the better. It really is.

Only once he's sure it's securely tied around there does Inigo bother to sit back again, staring at his handiwork for a moment before his gaze already travels back towards Gerome's face. Now he's exhausted pretty much everything he can do aside from finding a healer for the other, it's getting harder. It was easier to work off the straight adrenaline rush of wanting to save Gerome, but now he has a moment to really sit and think, the emotions are starting to rush over him. Inigo's breath is a little uneven, and without thinking he nervously brushes back his hair with one hand, making some of the blood stick in his blue hair as well.

"There. You're.." He has to suck in a deep breath as his voice starts to get a bit shakier. There's no way he could keep up some confident bravado forever here, and it's slowly starting to crumble now. "You will be okay."

~~Give him a break, he's delirious from pain and blood loss and a guy is practically stripping in front of him, a really good looking guy who he is so not attracted to, what is he supposed to think?~~

There was an odd sound then. It took Gerome a moment to realise it had been him... and he had yelled... Screamed? No... yelled. Yelled would be easier on his pride. Just like passing out for a moment was so much better than fainting. Luckily there was a wall behind him to lean heavily against.

When he came back, his eyes slowly opened to find Inigo looking at him.

Gerome was a little dazed, confused... but grateful. Inigo had helped him. As much as he could at least. He had been dragged to safety. And now... Even in his dazed state he could see how Inigo was struggling. And he felt bad. He felt bad for having to put Inigo through all of this. If it wasn't for his ribs he would have tended to his leg himself without issue. But being unable to lean forward without feeling like he was curing up his insides just wouldn't do.

So... instead... he stretched out a hand. He hadn't lifted it, it just slid across the ground until he couldn't reach anymore. His intent was to open his hand and maybe offer it to Inigo. Instead, when Gerome opened his hand, the blue gem stone he'd found was still clasped within it.

"... Oh." He hadn't let it go... Maybe he should use his other hand... The gem he liked. It reminded him of something important... "... I was... picking this up..."

Thank Naga that Gerome stretches his hand out like that. Inigo really needed a distraction, because all he could do at the moment was just sit there and think about everything. About the blood, about Gerome's obvious pain, the way he yelled, the few moments where Inigo's heart absolutely froze up back over there when he thought Gerome had died...

But this is something new. Especially when Gerome's hand opens and Inigo spots that gem inside of it. Sure, Inigo still looks.. more than slightly off compared to the usual, but a hint of surprise appears in his eyes all the same as his gaze falls upon it.

Inigo's gaze slides back up to Gerome's face.

"Why.. were you picking that up?" It doesn't seem very much like Gerome, now does it? He's not the type for any kind of sentimentality - or at least, not any kind of open sentimentality. He doesn't seem like he'd stop to pick up a gem in the middle of trying to clear out debris from the city.

But right now Inigo isn't poking fun at him for it. Especially not with Gerome in his current state. He's just asking because he's surprised.. and curious. It's why Inigo goes quiet after saying it, instead of stupidly rambling on like he usually does.

Why...? That was a good question... Gerome's head fell back against the wall behind him and he closed his eyes, just concentrating on breathing for a moment so he could think about other things. It was hard to get a full, deep breath, but he tried doing it. If he breathed in slow, he could almost fill his lungs...

And then he thought back to why he'd picked up the stone.

It had shone, catching his eye among the rubble. Maybe it wouldn't have caught his interest if it wasn't for the colour. It was blue. And that was important sometime, but he struggled to remember why. His brow wrinkled as Gerome tried hard to think of why... But all he could see when he closed his eyes were pained, scared eyes staring down at him. Or those same eyes looking at him now, confused and hurting, sad and... so many other emotions that Gerome couldn't even begin to sort through.

But it was then that it clicked.

When he realised why, he also realised he didn't want to say... But Inigo had already asked. And the stone was right there in his palm...

"... .... ..... It..." He slowly he opened his eyes, tiredly he looked over at Inigo. Gerome just didn't have the energy to be truly embarrassed or flustered over the why. It was what it was. "... It reminded me of you." Most specifically, it was almost the exact same shade of blue as Inigo's eyes.

It reminded Gerome of him.

It reminded Gerome of him.

Gerome saw it lying there, and it made him think of Inigo. And he bothered to pick it up. And even through a rockslide that hurt him so bad, he still clung onto it.

Inigo doesn't know how to deal with that fact. He already blushes sometimes over the slightest compliments. He's not used to praise, only to rejection.. And he certainly isn't used to people thinking of him. Being reminded of him. He doesn't know how to wrap his mind around the idea of Gerome having thought of him right before all of that.

So he just stares at the other. He looks kind of surprised and confused all at once. As if that simple statement broke something in Inigo's brain and it has to reboot for a few moments before anything else can happen.

But then something else does happen. Inigo's sight starts to get blurry since his eyes are filling up with water, and he makes no attempt to stop it this time. He doesn't bother to try and hide his tears. He's too emotional right now. He was so worked up already over Gerome's wellbeing, and now there's this on top of it. How could he not let everything out when it's all so overwhelming?

"Gerome.." It's almost little more than a whimper. Inigo really wants to cling to the other right now, but he knows it's not the best idea with the current state of Gerome's body.. The last thing he wants to do is injure him further, just because he couldn't stop his impulse control when it comes to physical affection.

"It.. It made you think of me? Why, I.. I..." Even through his tears, it's so obvious to tell from Inigo's tone just how touched he sounds as he says that. Then he shakes his head as about ten other thoughts start flying through there and moving out of his mouth without filter as the tears shamelessly roll down his cheeks. "Oh Gerome, I.. I thought you were dead! I thought I lost you..!"

He sniffs, but the tears keep coming.

"Do you know how many terrible nightmares I've had where that happened? And now it almost did..!"

Honestly, Gerome didn't really understand why he had done it or why the stone had reminded him of Inigo's eyes of all things. He wasn't wrong that it was very strikingly similar in hue to Inigo's shade of blue, but the urge to pick it up to examine it further was a strange one to him. The gem wasn't smooth, it was raw and uncut and had dug a little into his palm with it's sharp edged. But the colour was clear. And there was just something about it he liked.

But now Inigo was crying and Gerome just looked so confused. Why was that happening? What had he said? What had he done? Was it the stone? Should he throw it away?

It was suddenly just so much harder to breathe, and he really, really wanted to move, but just couldn't. All he could do was sit and watch while Inigo sobbed just out of arms reach and it was maddening...

So he listened to his cries, listened to his words as his head just lolled to the side a little and his eyes fell closed. He couldn't exactly tell Inigo that he'd thought he was said as well. That would just reinforce those negative feelings and make him cry more. That was something he wanted to avoid. The question about why the stone had made Gerome think of Inigo was one that he just couldn't answer. He didn't know... or was unwilling to sit and think about when he was in so much pain. Those were thoughts for much, much later...

But nightmares?

Gerome slowly opened his eyes again. Tears had made tracks through the dirt and dust covering Inigo's cheeks. He was sniffling and looked so upset... So, of course, there was only one thing Gerome could say.

"... Idiot." It was said with the smallest of sighs, in a weak, low voice. But there was no anger in the word. "... W-why... are you having foolish dreams... like that?" Had he given Inigo any cause to believe that he was likely to die? And why would he have nightmares like that? "... How long...?" Was it just these last few days?

Thankfully nothing about being called an idiot seems to make Inigo more upset. It's hardly of any consequence in the middle of all of this, after all. Not to mention that he has been called one so often - and often by Gerome himself, on top of that - that it hardly has any effect anymore. Let alone when it's said so weakly.

But then there's that question, and there's no way Inigo could lie now of all times. Not after he promised to try and be more open with Gerome in the first place. Not when Gerome is so hurt. Not when Gerome of all people, one of the most closed off people Inigo knows, said that he picked up a gem because it reminded him of Inigo.

So he sucks in a shakey breath, wiping with one hand at his eyes. It's a pretty useless effort, since he's still crying, so the tears he wipes away are replaced with new ones instantly. All the gesture does is form the dirt on his face into streaks.

".. For a long time now."

That is the honest answer.

"I.. especially had them often back home. Back before all of us went to the past.. I-- I know I smiled and joked around a lot back then, but.. I was actually so worried. And those worries appeared in my nightmares. I dreamt so often that.." He pauses. Another shakey breath. "That you died and turned into one of those Risen.. And I never knew what to do in those dreams. I couldn't fight you.. I.. I just can't lose you. You're too important to me.."

That's just a fact. Even if they may have grown more distant over the years compared to how they were younger, Gerome had always remained important to him. Why else would Inigo specifically have come to look for him the night before they'd all go to the past without Gerome? Why else would he have offered to stay behind with the other, even if everyone else would go?

And just like that, Gerome learned he hated Inigo's smile.

How many times had the fool smiled that big, cheerful smile and how many of those times had it been hiding the fear of nightmares? Possibly too many times. And yes, he knew he was a hypocrite. Gerome was more than aware that he was the worst kind of hypocrite. He hid behind his mask the same way that Inigo hid behind his smile and somehow that was worse. Maybe it was because Inigo was so happy and outgoing. He was social. He made friends. He was wanted. Why would someone like that ever need to hide their feelings?

Even the nightmares, which were a shock at first, made sense to him... Again, for hypocritical reasons. Because those nightmares were the very reason Gerome kept people away. Why he pushed them as far away as possible, or at least kept them at arms-length.

It just hurt too much.

They'd make you care. Make you feel for them, love them, invest in their lives... and then they would leave. Either walk away or just die. And back home, if they died it was even worse because of the Risen. The thought of having to kill a friend was something that had always filled his veins with ice. How could he do that? How could he possibly do that, even though he knew it was a mercy to do it?

He would, of course. He would end their miserable un-life if he needed to. Gerome would rather he do it than the likes of Inigo. No one expected Gerome to be hurt by such things, after all. It was why he just didn't want to get close to people. To lessen the blow when he would finally have to finish them off and bury them...

And without his mask, there was a new pain in Gerome's expression. He couldn't help it, he was too weak to stop it. He didn't understand why Inigo was saying these things now of all times. Why not back home? Why now? It... it wasn't fair. It was cruel. Gerome just didn't know what to say or do. How was he supposed to answer? Could he call him an idiot again? Maybe. Brush it all off, sweep it all under the table like none of it happened. But... that wouldn't help Inigo, would it? He'd wanted honesty from the other. Not doing the same, would make him more of an ass than he was.

"... Me too." He spoke quietly.

It hurts to see a pain similar to the one he's feeling mirrored back in Gerome's eyes. A pain that goes beyond the physical pain he must no doubt be feeling right now. A pain that runs much closer to everything they went through back home. The kind of pain only they could understand - that no one else could understand about them.

.. the kind of pain that's laced with a weird edge of caring. Inigo knows that even at the moments where Gerome does care, he doesn't show it.. or hardly shows it, anyway. But he's tried ever since showing up here. Letting Inigo hug him, cling to him, find comfort in him.. He knows those sorts of things don't come naturally to Gerome. And yet he let him do it.

And even now, at this most vulnerable time, Gerome chooses to say 'me too' rather than dismissing everything. Rather than telling Inigo off and telling him to go find some help already, or to let him sit here by himself to come to terms with his pain and wounds.

There's no way Inigo can stop the tears at that. But just sitting here and crying at Gerome without doing anything else feels weird too after exchanging those words. So Inigo reaches out to the hand Gerome used to reach out in his direction earlier - the one with the gemstone in it - and gently moves to wrap both of his own hands around it. The hand seems relatively less injured than other parts of Gerome's body, so he's really hoping he can do this much without causing a whole new world of hurt for the other.

He then slowly raises the hand held between his own up to hold it against Inigo's cheek. There's something so tender about it, though it's easy to just dismiss that as Inigo trying to make sure to not hurt him.

"Thank you.." 'For saying that,' he means. His own voice is just as quiet, even though there's no one near them right now who could overhear it in the first place.

"Thank you for pulling through.." Even though Gerome may not have much of a choice in that even if he hadn't, but Inigo firmly believes that Gerome's strength of will is what helped cause not the worst possible end to that rockslide. ".. Thank you for not leaving me."

He'd said those two, simple words... But for the life of Gerome he had no idea what he was admitting to. And he was very glad that Inigo didn't ask for clarification. Though being thanked was confusing. Had he done something worthy of being grateful? Gerome wasn't sure, but he just didn't have the energy to argue or fight over what really amounted to nit-picking. Inigo... was hurting more than enough, he didn't need to add to that.

Gerome watched through heavy lidded eyes as the other lifted his hand. Inigo was careful enough, so Gerome did his best to keep any signs of pain or discomfort from his face from the movement. There wasn't much anyway, but he knew even the smallest sign would have had the fool begging forgiveness or something equally ridiculous.

But it was the next action that truly confused Gerome.

Instead of just holding his hand like he normally would, Inigo pressed his hand to one tear stained cheek and just held it there while he continued to thank him for things that were out of either of their control. How was he supposed to answer them? Maybe he could just go to sleep and not have to deal with having to think about it more...? But... that would be leaving Inigo. And the stupid flirt had gone and thanked him for not leaving. Gerome would have sighed if he could ever fill his lungs again.

What he did, Gerome would deny to his dying breath if asked later, because he had no conscious notion of having actually done it. He moved his hand, turning it within Inigo's slowly, and just as slowly he brushed his thumb across the cheek his hand was pressed against, wiping away the tears with the gentlest of touches.

"... Stop... thanking me, you fool." Was there tenderness in that voice? Another thing Gerome would deny to his dying breath if ever questioned. "... And sit beside me... before I fall..." Because he knew he would not last much longer, he was so damn tired, he just wanted to close his eyes. And the thought of tipping over and landing on his side was not the most attractive of thoughts.

It's ironic. Because it takes a slight moment for Inigo to even realise that slight movement on his cheek, considering how wrapped up his thoughts are in Gerome's wellbeing right now, but once he does, it just makes him feel like crying more. It's just so small, yet sweet and touching. And such a good reminder that Gerome really is still here, even if he's still in pain. It's exactly what Inigo needs right now.

But he's doing his best to try and not start crying even harder. He'd practically be sobbing like a baby at that point, and that's not going to help anyone. Least of all at a moment like this. Because Gerome's request snaps Inigo's mind right back to reality. Right -- he should be taking care of the other first. That's the most important thing right now. Just.. doing what he can do in this situation.

Even if said thing he can do is just sitting next to Gerome and quite literally supporting the other.

Inigo wordlessly moves over to sit down at Gerome's side. It's probably no surprise that he's making sure to sit as close as possible to the other. It's what he might have done normally to, with his penchant of trying to get physical contact from the people he's fond of, but in this case it has the practical use of making sure Gerome doesn't have to support his own weight. He can just let it drop against Inigo's side.

He hasn't let go of Gerome's hand though. But rather than holding it up against his cheek, he's now just holding it in front of them with one hand. Like he's worried Gerome might just fade away the moment he lets go.

".. There," he softly says once he's properly settled in. "Like this? Tell me if I need to adjust anything."

He may be even more catering than usually here, but then again, it's not like Gerome is just a little bit hurt.

"Do you need to sleep..? I'm.. not quite sure if it's a good idea in your current condition, but if you can't help it.."

Gerome waited for Inigo to accept his request and join him at his side. He was more than a little surprised that Inigo didn't let go of his hand... But saying something just didn't seem worth it. And anyway, the hand in his felt warm and that was alright...

"Not... sleep..." Though he was very tired. What he needed more than that was something much simpler. Once Inigo was there at his side, Gerome leaned to the side to rest his weight upon the others shoulder. Doing so helped take a little pressure off of him to keep himself upright, eased some of the tension, and helped him breathe a little better.

"... I apologise... But please... just for a moment..." Just let him lean like this.

When Inigo can feel Gerome entirely voluntarily moving to shift his weight against him like that, he can't help but grow quiet. His cheeks even start to grow a little red, though he's sure it's just the surprise of this moment and the relief that Gerome might be okay if he just rests for now and then gets healed once they can go back on the train..

But it's still.. nice. Gerome's weight against him. His hand in Inigo's own. His soft breaths so close to him. Inigo is just so damn relieved he didn't have to lose someone important all over again. He could cry in this moment, honestly, but he's so determined not to. Gerome needs him to be strong right now. He can cry about this later sometime to himself - but not right now.

Right now he just wants to be there for Gerome.

"Don't apologize.." He replies, softly. He means it too - if anything, them sitting this way seems like something Inigo may have asked for under different circumstances. Sure, it's not as fun to do it now when Gerome is so hurt and Inigo still worries about him.. but it's still nothing to apologize for.

"Stay like this for as long as you need. I'm.. not going anywhere without you."

Eyes slowly closed. He didn't want to sleep, Gerome was unsure if that would be wise, given his condition. But by closing his eyes he could focus more inward. He concentrated on his breathing, tried to be as still as he could possibly be. Stillness lessened some of the pain he felt, though not all of it. He'd felt pain before. He'd had broken bones before. He'd been cut before, shallow and deep... There were the scars to prove that he had been through battles often enough... The sheer embarrassment of having been brought so low by rocks was pain enough.

"... You... had better... not..." Gerome muttered quietly. Talking was so much more difficult when he couldn't take a full breath and it felt like if he wasn't careful everything was just going to fall out of him. Without realising he'd curled an arm around his middle as best he could, as if he could stop that from happening. It hurt so damn much. But he had to reply to Inigo. Needed to show he was still here with him... Needed to show he wasn't going anywhere either.

It's obvious that it's hard for Gerome to talk right now. It makes Inigo appreciate the few words he can say all the more, of course, though he wishes Gerome wouldn't push himself too much while he's in this state.

So..

"I'm.. just going to talk, okay? If it gets too annoying, just tell me to shut up."

But he at least wants Gerome to have something to listen to. If not just so he can focus on that rather than in how much pain he must be right now.

"Uh, I.. was talking to one of my friends earlier this mission. He was on another team, but apparently stopped by here for a moment, though I'm not quite sure why-- either way, that's not the point. He seems to be from a time much different from ours, quite like a lot of people on the train. And he was talking about masseurs. Apparently they exist where he comes from. Those are people.. erm, professionals you can go see and they give you a massage." Listen, Inigo's story might not be the most coherent, but he's trying. He's still pretty panicked right now, but he's trying to contain that in order to not make Gerome worry or panic in turn. It does make his story more rambly though. "Apparently they just touch your back and neck in just the right places.. like giving you a shoulder rub, but more extensive than that. Doesn't that sound nice? I rather like the sound of it. I don't think there's anything like that back on the train, but maybe I should learn how to do that sort of thing? Then I could give you a massage. You know, when your body stops hurting.. which it will! Of course! With time! But that sounds nice, right? Apparently it's supposed to make you feel really nice and calm."

Gerome fell quiet and just listened since that was what he had been asked to do. He let Inigo chatter away about something strange. Something that made him wonder just how he got into these kinds of conversations with people. Until he remembered that, oh yes, Inigo was a flirt. Of course he'd have conversations about touching people in certain ways. It made sense when Gerome put it in that context.

"... Flirt." Gladio spoke quietly, not opening his eyes and not feeling like he needed to explain himself more.

He really didn't like the idea of someone touching him in that way. It seemed much too intimate for his liking. How anyone could go and want a person to do that? Well, he knew people like Inigo would, who liked such things as touch. But Gerome? It was still such a strange thing to know that Inigo wanted to do things like... hug him... and keep hold of his hand like that.

"Wha.."

Inigo's jaw drops open, though he doesn't move.

"I-- I can platonically touch people!"

Despite how worried he still is about Gerome, those aren't just pretend dramatics. Okay, maybe he's dialling it up a bit to make Gerome feel like all this is familiar, but he genuinely didn't discuss it in a flirty context! .. For once! He wasn't even the first person to bring it up in that conversation! He was totally thinking of platonic massages, okay!

"In fact.. I am touching you!" At least he says that less loudly, realising that his full on dramatics might be a little much for Gerome in his current state. "Right now! And I'm not going to let go until you're safely back on the train."

There was the softest of snorts, followed by a low groan. He hadn't laughed but had come close enough to have caused a flash of pain that reminded him why he was leaning against Inigo in the first place.

"... But... are you touching me for me... or you...?" Gerome asked quietly. Of course he knew that Inigo wasn't flirting with him. The touches were purely platonic, there were no doubts about that. He didn't think there was anyone in any universe that would want to touch him in any other way. Or at all. Inigo was a rare breed indeed. And one of only a very, very small handful that Gerome could tolerate to do even that.

"Huh?" Although that question doesn't seem to pull out the same levels of a defensive response as the last thing Gerome said did, Inigo still seems a little surprised by it. Mostly since he immediately thinks about the question and realises that he's not quite sure of the answer himself.

So for a moment Inigo is quiet until the words slowly start to come out of his mouth.

"I'm.. touching you to let you know I'm still here." After all, Gerome said that Inigo better not leave, right? And while it's not like Inigo was planning on doing that in the slightest, he might as well try to reassure the other as much as possible that he's right here.

But he knows that's not the full answer.

So he does continue, though he ducks his head a little - while making sure to not move his body, since he's still supporting Gerome's weight.

".. and to let me know that you're still here." Because for a moment back there he had been absolutely terrified that he had lost Gerome. Inigo doesn't think there's much worse that could happen to him on this whole train journey than that.

"Ah..."

That... did make sense. In a way. It was reassuring to know that Inigo was there. While he hoped that his injuries would not eventually kill him, if he were to die, he would be happy to know that... a friend was at his side.

Gerome's eyes closed, and for a brief moment the hand within Inigo's tightened before it relaxed again.

"... I... am not leaving..." Was it a promise? It sure sounded like it was a promise. It was the only one that Gerome had to give in that moment.

That is a promise that Inigo really wants to keep Gerome to. Not just right now - though right now is really important too, for obvious reasons - but in the future too. As selfish as it may be, he just.. really doesn't want Gerome to leave his side.

Ever.

"I won't let you," he softly says. It has nothing to do with him forcing Gerome to stay or anything of the sort though - if Gerome ever wanted to leave for whatever reason, Inigo would let him. Even though it would upset him so much. No, in this case it just means that he won't let Gerome die here and now. If the other starts looking too weak, Inigo will just drag a healer back from those tunnels himself if he has to. He doesn't care what he'd have to do for it. He won't let Gerome die. ".. I need you here."

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