[ His eyes flicker down, staring at Sholmes' chest. ]
I don't know what the other's saw, but I...
[ His throat tightens a little. If this were any other person, he wouldn't be talking about this. He would leave these details out. But it's him. He knows... He already knows.
He swallows hard, voice a little hoarse. ]
I had to relive leaving the hospital. Leaving my wife behind as she made me promise to keep being a hero. To keep going. I had to get the call again. Hear the news all over. Walking back into that hospital room with the lights black. Her body...
[...The urge is almost instant - the need to pull the man in, hold him tightly against himself, and reassure him. But now, the urge comes with awkwardness, hesitance, and there's a pause...]
[But then he seems to decide something, and just reaches out to cup the man's head at the very least.]
How terrible. [Items that bring back memories? Far-fetched, but he believes the man's words.] I'm sorry. I'm sorry you had to relive that.
[ He closes his eyes, a few tears slipping out, just leaning into that touch. ]
That was the last thing I'd expected. Working through that regret again...
[ A very slow breath comes out. ]
But it felt like I had to make some kind of choice. To let it go or carry that weight. Despite how much it hurts, there's no chance I'd just forget about it.
I know. But that's also why I need to carry that with me.
[ His eyes slowly open to look directly at Sholmes. Silently, he moves one of his hands to rest on Sholmes' side, or stomach if he's still on his back. ]
[ He sighs, relaxing a bit more. After getting all of that off his chest, the exhaustion is starting to seep in a bit more. Crying a little helped release some of the tension inside.
And, a little quieter now, more drowsy. ]
Maybe you should take your own advice sometimes.
[ He's still looking at Sholmes, but his eyelids are getting heavier. ]
[ He shifts a little, groggy, but propping himself up on one arm to get a better look at him. ]
Hm... I wonder.
[ His body is rocking a little bit, as if he's about to just collapse forward under the sleepiness. (Thanks for the help, pain pills?) But he's resisting giving in just yet. ]
[ His head shakes a little, the hand that was resting on Sholmes' stomach moving up to place on his cheek. For now, he doesn't say anything, just staying like that and watching him. ]
[ He sighs, but he doesn't roll over and just lets his body give out so he's partially slumped down on him. Sorry, buddy. He's physically very exhausted and didn't actually mean to collapse like that.
Which also means his head is probably pressed near his neck, his breathing a bit heavier now. ]
Mm...
[ He's not asleep yet, but he's not moving, either. ]
[He lets out a slow exhale...but he'll let it linger for a good moment. Just for a moment. And then he's shifting to give them some space between them. Irene tucks herself under his arm.]
[ He's really out of by this point with everything said and done. But his fingers seek out the edge of Sholmes's outfit. Not to pull him back or anything, but just to hold on.
Maybe to make sure he doesn't leave...? But otherwise, his breathing is getting more shallow, relaxing this fully for the first time in days. ]
[Things are different now. The feelings of a curse no longer hang over them. He doesn't feel for this man the same way he did two says ago, when they did exactly this.]
[But somehow, this is...the same. In its own way. The same kind of strange comfort that was there before.]
[What a mystery.]
[Sholmes goes to sleep easily, lightly. As if nothing matters.]
[Two dads spooning? Extremely scandalous and NSFW, wow.]
[But eventually he stirs to wakefulness. Right. Right...yes. They needed to meet Rin. No oversleeping, here. He's turning to tap Kotetsu lightly on the shoulder.]
But at that tapping, he starts to come to, groggy. It takes him a few times of blinking to actually start putting two and two together what Sholmes just said. ]
Right, right... Rin.
[ He's pushing up a bit. Yep, still sore. Finley is starting to stir at his feet, but doesn't look like she wants to get up, either. ]
[ He's in a proper sitting position on the bed, rubbing his face a little. ]
I should probably grab my stuff so I can--
[ And then he pauses, remembering something before jolting up faster than he should and reeling a little. The wave of pain mixed with the grogginess making him stumble. ]
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[He's opening his eyes to actually turn his face to him, eyebrows creased in slight confusion.]
What happened then?
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[ His eyes flicker down, staring at Sholmes' chest. ]
I don't know what the other's saw, but I...
[ His throat tightens a little. If this were any other person, he wouldn't be talking about this. He would leave these details out. But it's him. He knows... He already knows.
He swallows hard, voice a little hoarse. ]
I had to relive leaving the hospital. Leaving my wife behind as she made me promise to keep being a hero. To keep going. I had to get the call again. Hear the news all over. Walking back into that hospital room with the lights black. Her body...
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[But then he seems to decide something, and just reaches out to cup the man's head at the very least.]
How terrible. [Items that bring back memories? Far-fetched, but he believes the man's words.] I'm sorry. I'm sorry you had to relive that.
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That was the last thing I'd expected. Working through that regret again...
[ A very slow breath comes out. ]
But it felt like I had to make some kind of choice. To let it go or carry that weight. Despite how much it hurts, there's no chance I'd just forget about it.
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[A low sigh, his hand slightly stroking the other's side of the head.]
What happened, happened. But I think your wife would never want you to be anchored to your regret, you know. You can't let it trap you.
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[ His eyes slowly open to look directly at Sholmes. Silently, he moves one of his hands to rest on Sholmes' side, or stomach if he's still on his back. ]
That past makes me who I am now.
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[He stiffens, slightly, awkward. It isn't quite the same as it was two days ago.]
Of course. [He knows that well.] Just be careful not to let it overwhelm you.
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Yeah... Yeah, I get it.
[ Does Sholmes not realize that kind of, well, almost hypocrisy in those words? Hm. ]
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[Unfortunately, Sholmes is one of the biggest hypocrites on the planet.]
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And, a little quieter now, more drowsy. ]
Maybe you should take your own advice sometimes.
[ He's still looking at Sholmes, but his eyelids are getting heavier. ]
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[He's drawing back, but letting his hands rest on the other's shoulders, closing his eyes.]
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Hm... I wonder.
[ His body is rocking a little bit, as if he's about to just collapse forward under the sleepiness. (Thanks for the help, pain pills?) But he's resisting giving in just yet. ]
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[Irene perks her ears up just as Sholmes's eyes open to stare up at him. Just a mild, sleepy expression.]
What is it?
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[As the pause continues, the mild expression saddens, shifts, until he just looks...distant.]
Please. Go to sleep. You need to rest.
[And he's turning his face away.]
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Which also means his head is probably pressed near his neck, his breathing a bit heavier now. ]
Mm...
[ He's not asleep yet, but he's not moving, either. ]
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[Well, how is he going to sleep like this.]
[He lets out a slow exhale...but he'll let it linger for a good moment. Just for a moment. And then he's shifting to give them some space between them. Irene tucks herself under his arm.]
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Maybe to make sure he doesn't leave...? But otherwise, his breathing is getting more shallow, relaxing this fully for the first time in days. ]
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[But somehow, this is...the same. In its own way. The same kind of strange comfort that was there before.]
[What a mystery.]
[Sholmes goes to sleep easily, lightly. As if nothing matters.]
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Now wouldn't it be funny if they woke up spooning? ]
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[But eventually he stirs to wakefulness. Right. Right...yes. They needed to meet Rin. No oversleeping, here. He's turning to tap Kotetsu lightly on the shoulder.]
We need to get up. Come now.
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But at that tapping, he starts to come to, groggy. It takes him a few times of blinking to actually start putting two and two together what Sholmes just said. ]
Right, right... Rin.
[ He's pushing up a bit. Yep, still sore. Finley is starting to stir at his feet, but doesn't look like she wants to get up, either. ]
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Do you need a moment? You're still in pain...
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[ He's in a proper sitting position on the bed, rubbing his face a little. ]
I should probably grab my stuff so I can--
[ And then he pauses, remembering something before jolting up faster than he should and reeling a little. The wave of pain mixed with the grogginess making him stumble. ]
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[He's actually coming over instantly to put a hand on the other's shoulder, trying to stabilize him.]
What's wrong? There's no rush.
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