➸005 [[Voice]]

[militisvenator]

[ His voice is low and monotone, almost too hard to hear. It's painful for him to speak. He doesn't want to, but the words must be said. Despite him being a wreck. ]

We've returned from our search. Unfortunately, to those who are friends of Ms. Aerith, I'm afraid she did not survive outside the walls of Paradise. I apologize for your loss and wish

Comments

-voice-

[blackhole_revel]

Wha- ...

[There's a small sniffle, and she'll never say anything about it, but it's there]

Ar... How-

Grant?

[voice]

[militisvenator]

[ He's battling his emotions. He's never felt so upset in his life. His eyes sting and it's hard to speak. Eventually he catches his breath enough to speak to her. ]

I'm sorry Mercy. I..failed to protect him.

-voice-

[blackhole_revel]

But he's meant...he's... [The lump in her throat makes this hard.]

Is he in the clinic? They can fix it, right? They do it all the time.

[voice]

[militisvenator]

[ He's choking on his words. Breathless. ] I don't know.

-voice-

[blackhole_revel]

I-..I need to check. I sh-...

Grant, [she sniffs again] he can't be gone.

[voice]

[militisvenator]

There is no need. I carried him there.

[ Though she can't see, tears are already falling freely down his face. This man hasn't cried since he was eleven. But he has no control over it. ] I know..I know. I'm sorry I-- I'm almost home.

[ He knew at least that he needed to be with her, the rest of his family for comfort. ]

-voice-

[blackhole_revel]

okay

[She's just going to sit on her bed, on her mattress and stare at the wall now, letting tears streak down her face.]

[voice]

[militisvenator]

[ He gets there as soon as he can. His feet are heavy on the ground as he slowly makes his way to her room, his heart just as heavy as his feet. He sits beside her but says nothing. There is nothing that he can say that will make things better. ]

-action-

[blackhole_revel]

[There's been plenty of times where comfort was needed, but not like this. Mercy gives a sniffle again, wiping her hand over her face and leaning against him.]

How...no, I don't wanna know how.

You hurt? [Maybe she could just focus on him.]

[action]

[militisvenator]

[ He moves his arm around her, resting his head against hers. He would have never thought but it helped him a great deal. Grant was silent for a short while before answering her. ]

Just a few cuts and bruises. [ His jacket and pants were sliced in some areas. But he could care less. ]

-action-

[blackhole_revel]

[His arms coming around her is all it takes for her to slide closer; one arm around his back over his shoulder, the other over his waist, her body turning so she can bury her face in his neck.]

What're we meant to do without him?

[action]

[militisvenator]

[ With that Grant held her close, his grip tightening just a very little. The loss was painful enough. But the pain from the others as well would just be horrible. He would have to try and be strong for them. ]

[ As soon as he was sure he could speak without sobbing, once the water had stopped falling from his eyes, he let out a small breath of air. ] Stay together. Move on, as I imagine he would want us to do, and look out for one another.

-action-

[blackhole_revel]

[She clenched her eyes closed and pressed her forehead against his throat, willing herself to stop crying and pull herself together. To let Grant know she could hold it together.]

We can't leave now. I mean, we can't go anywhere else.

[action]

[militisvenator]

[ He ran a hand down her back in an attempt to soothe her. ] That's fine. I doubt Lauren or Allison would like to separate. Whatever we decide is best for everyone, for anything, we'll do it together.

-action-

[blackhole_revel]

[Calming somewhat, she pulls back just a little, wiping her face with the back of her hand again.] Right, we'll make it work. [It wasn't like they knew how to do anything but make it work. Since that was pretty much their entire life.]

I hate this stupid place.

[action]

[militisvenator]

[ It was undoubtedly the story of their lives. But Grant would personally see to it that they made it work. He saw what was left of his team as his responsibility, and he would do his damned best to protect them from anything else that came. ]

[ He didn't lift his eyes until she spoke. His hand moved from her back to wipe what remained of the tears on her face, significantly more gently than she had done for herself. ] We will survive. Despite these circumstances, we will survive.