He had known immediately, a nightmare he couldn't imagine he'd ever wake up in again. He'd felt the power of hyperresonance in his body again, and with it, the slow and steady contamination that was eating his body apart by the hour. He'd been on the Albiore III, and as he awoke, Ginji had asked him what was wrong - they were approaching Eldrant, after all. He was back, away from Luceti, probably for forever. And he had a job to do.
So he'd done it. He'd fallen into the trap, foolishly, but he hadn't fought Luke has they'd promised. The replica had been confused, but he had no memories of Luceti and there'd been no time to explain his change of heart. He'd told Luke to carry on without him. And then he'd been ambushed, left for dead. He'd finally let himself sleep.
So why's he suddenly able to open his eyes, gasping for breath and feeling every wound, every drop of blood flowing from him, yet without the swords in his body? And why isn't he alone?]
He was dying; Guy's hands and the bedsheets he was currently ripping up wouldn't make the blood stop, so he was dying, yes. But he wasn't dead. Or gone forever.
Guy's hands shook so he tore the sheets with his teeth instead.]
Asch- Listen to me, you're not allowed to die. Do you understand? I don't know if they'll bring you back. Do not die.
[Asch can do nothing but smile, reaching towards him with a shaky hand. Guy recognizes him, knows who he is, cares about his well-being. They're in a bed. It's Luceti.
He's back. And because of that, he doesn't care if he's dying, because he doesn't have to die alone.]
S... sorry... I...
[The rest of his words are cut off as he begins to choke; too much blood in his lungs. One of the swords had torn past it, and he had the shattered rib to prove it.]
[Asch tries to put as much pressure on the wound as he can, but he doesn't have much strength left. He doesn't want to let Guy down, though - and he doesn't want to die, either. Not when he's managed to make it back here.]
[Guy takes a moment; relief, fear, anxiety, helplessness, anger, guilt, frustration...everything fights for his attention at once and he doesn't know which direction to go, but-
Asch.
...Guy covers Asch's hand with his own, and leans down to kiss his cheek.] You'll be okay. I promise.
[Is he going to die? Is this it? Guy's promising otherwise, but he has no way to keep it, no healing magic to keep him alive. Nothing but blind hope and determination. He wants to believe it, though. He wants it more than anything.
This place has become home, here with Guy and Luke. He's loved and wanted. It's more than he ever thought he'd get in his life, after the kidnapping. He doesn't want to lose it.
Breath hitching, his fingers curl weakly around Guy's, chest heaving for every desperate breath. It's his way of saying he's going to fight to live with everything he's got in him.]
[Asch nods wearily, slowly releasing his grip on Guy's hand and slumping back against the bed. He's going to fight for it - he's going to try. For all of their sakes.]
...Guy... I...
[And that's all he can manage before he loses consciousness.]
He had known immediately, a nightmare he couldn't imagine he'd ever wake up in again. He'd felt the power of hyperresonance in his body again, and with it, the slow and steady contamination that was eating his body apart by the hour. He'd been on the Albiore III, and as he awoke, Ginji had asked him what was wrong - they were approaching Eldrant, after all. He was back, away from Luceti, probably for forever. And he had a job to do.
So he'd done it. He'd fallen into the trap, foolishly, but he hadn't fought Luke has they'd promised. The replica had been confused, but he had no memories of Luceti and there'd been no time to explain his change of heart. He'd told Luke to carry on without him. And then he'd been ambushed, left for dead. He'd finally let himself sleep.
So why's he suddenly able to open his eyes, gasping for breath and feeling every wound, every drop of blood flowing from him, yet without the swords in his body? And why isn't he alone?]
G... Guy...
[It has to be a dream.]
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He was dying; Guy's hands and the bedsheets he was currently ripping up wouldn't make the blood stop, so he was dying, yes. But he wasn't dead. Or gone forever.
Guy's hands shook so he tore the sheets with his teeth instead.]
Asch- Listen to me, you're not allowed to die. Do you understand? I don't know if they'll bring you back. Do not die.
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He's back. And because of that, he doesn't care if he's dying, because he doesn't have to die alone.]
S... sorry... I...
[The rest of his words are cut off as he begins to choke; too much blood in his lungs. One of the swords had torn past it, and he had the shattered rib to prove it.]
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NOT NOW.
Guy pressed a wad of cloth to a wound, took Asch's hands in his own and held them to the cloth.] Hold that, there. Stella's on her way.
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Asch.
...Guy covers Asch's hand with his own, and leans down to kiss his cheek.] You'll be okay. I promise.
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This place has become home, here with Guy and Luke. He's loved and wanted. It's more than he ever thought he'd get in his life, after the kidnapping. He doesn't want to lose it.
Breath hitching, his fingers curl weakly around Guy's, chest heaving for every desperate breath. It's his way of saying he's going to fight to live with everything he's got in him.]
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...Guy... I...
[And that's all he can manage before he loses consciousness.]
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No- No, please no-]
Asch!
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