[ It takes some effort to lure the caretakers out of the orphanage after the children, but when it comes down to it, the flames threatening to lick at the building offer that extra bit of encouragement. They clearly care more about protecting their own hides than trying to conceal what's hidden inside.
Unfortunately, that leaves them little time to finish clearing the place out. Akira is on his way back in to do just that when he feels it: distress pulsing suddenly in his chest, an emotion that's not his own.
Lux.
It pulls him in without a second thought. He's off, tearing through the hallways as fast as he can, no regard for the smoke that fills his lungs. Why isn't she with the kids like she was supposed to be? No, he knows why. Lux wanted to do more. She's doing more.
The sight that greets him among the cages turns his blood cold, only for it to boil once more as he springs into action. In no time, he's yanking the harpy off of her, twisting one of those winged arms behind his back with a snap of delicate bone and a subsequent shriek of pain. ]
She's not with the Coven! We're trying to get you to safety.
[ Between the adrenaline pumping through her veins and the steadily crushing weight on her chest, it's difficult for Lux to focus. She can feel something prickling at the edge of her mind (dread, then anger), but her thoughts are trapped in the visceral fight-or-flight response that keeps her struggling beyond her better judgement. Ah, this is bad; it's getting harder and harder to breathe.
Then a lot happens all at once. The weight pinning her down is lifted, and she takes a deep, labored gasp of air before curling on her side with a pained shudder. She hears the Harpy yelp in pain, and Akira's sharp tone cut through the fog in her head.
The Harpy's attention quickly flits between the two of them, as he tries to free himself from Akira's grasp. That statement clearly isn't a lie (he would know if it was), but he still doesn't seem to be thinking straight. ]
It— [ She takes a shaky breath, slowly trying to pull herself up. ] It's all right. It's my fault.
[ Considering she's the one on the ground, it's not a very strong argument. ]
[ Akira can't relax his grip even a fraction as the harpy struggles against it. Luckily, the pain and the threat of further fracture keeps him from jerking around as roughly as he probably could. ]
It's not your fault. [ Akira can't imagine her doing anything worse than startling or confusing the Monster, and neither of those things would merit being nearly choked out on the floor.
But his attention can't stay on Lux, not when they need to get out of here before the entire place is engulfed. There's no way he's leaving without this harpy; they came here to guide them to safety, after all. His next words are addressed to his squirming captive, grip shifting so that he can thrust an arm out on display. Maybe if the harpy sees that Akira is also a Monster, it'll calm him down somewhat. ]
Look! Let us help you.
[ Between Lux's insistence on taking the blame and the sight of Akira's fur, he seems to be slowly coming down from that frantic state, although there's still plenty of tension wound tight in his frame. If Akira lets go too soon, he might still try to fight or bolt.
The tone of his voice shifts from taut with anger and tinged with panic to something more calm. ]
Come with us. If you try to go off on your own, the military or Witches might catch you. We know a place where it's safe.
[ His tactic works. As the Harpy's attention is diverted to Akira's arm, he stops struggling, his head beginning to hang as he slowly starts to regain composure despite the pain in his wing. He still holds tension in his body, like he could run at any moment.
It's not a great situation, but at least he isn't attacking anyone.
Lux is slower to ease herself up. Adrenaline masks most of it, but the pain starting to trickle in is concerning. She tries to make her movements seem more purposeful rather than strained, keeping her head bowed as she grits her teeth. ]
We need to move.
[ She can't keep the discomfort out of her voice, and as she takes a deep (worryingly painful) breath, she forces herself to her feet. This is fine, she's fine. She can push through; but this is going to hurt when she comes down.
She turns her attention towards Akira, a deep frown set on her face. ]
Everyone should be gone by now. [ A beat, and a shallow breath. ] Can you help me?
[ Having someone who isn't a Witch freeing the Monsters here might be a good idea... and she's not sure she can physically take any more "surprises" like the one earlier. ]
[ Somewhere in the back of his mind, it clicks how truly lucky he is to have this Bond with Lux. It may be temporary, but in this instant, it's allowed him to both find her in her moment of need and resist the feral instincts threatening to engulf his mind as his emotions crest. Without it, even if he'd managed to stumble upon her in time, there's no telling what he would've done. Even now, the edges of his consciousness are hazed out by the churning need to do something about the threats surrounding them.
But the harpy finally goes still in his grip, and that seems to be one concern taken off the table. In its place now is the strain he can hear lining Lux's words—and, most of all, an actual earnest request for help leaving her mouth.
He wants to blame the Monster inside of him when irritation boils up in response, chalk it up to the ugly feelings that rear their heads more and more often as he continues to transform, but regardless of what causes it, all he can think about is the conversation they had before coming here. ]
Now you want my help. [ It's a bit louder than a murmur, and Akira clamps his mouth shut the moment the words are out. It's not the time for that, not when the window to escape the flames grows more and more narrow by the second.
He shakes his head as if trying to cast off those thoughts, briefly turning his attention to the harpy. ]
Stay close to us, but if we get separated for any reason... We're headed to the sewers. There's a resistance faction down there.
[ And with that, he finally relinquishes his grip, approaching Lux with an expression that probably can't even convey this inexplicable mix of anger, concern, relief, and contrition. ]
[ Stumbling to her feet doesn't do it. Forcing herself to breath despite the strain in her chest doesn't do it. But when those words tumble out of Akira's mouth, punctuated by a cascade of very intense emotions, Lux visibly winces. It snaps her fully back to reality, forcing her to push through the pain.
Ah, she messed up. But if she hadn't come down here, it's very likely these Monsters wouldn't have been saved.
Her gaze pulling away when he approaches, she tries to act like normal. But her posture is way too rigid to be natural. Lux forces herself to look up at him, a jumbled mess of regret and discomfort rolling off her. Holding out her hand, she offers the key she had been clutching out to him. ]
[ The way she winces and the unnatural way she stands multiplies his concern, but there's no time to worry over her right now, not when they have to finish up here and get out. Akira lets that feeling propel him forward, taking the key from her quickly. ]
I'll be done in no time. [ It's a small reassurance, but a reassurance nonetheless.
It really doesn't take him long to unlock the remaining cages and usher the Monsters inside out. Fortunately, the harpy seems like the most aggressive of all of them, the rest simply appearing dazed or afraid. They're apparently willing to follow, though, at least if it means escaping the fire.
Akira returns to Lux's side, where he leans down a bit to offer her his shoulders for support. ]
[ Lux stands guard as Akira frees the rest of the Monsters from their cages. She knows that she wouldn't stand a chance if the Harpy decided to attack again, but thankfully he keeps relatively still, watching Akira carefully as well.
It's a relief that the rest of the captives go willingly, although she suspects that his presence may have something to do with it. Being a Monster himself probably helps, but he seems like he's done something like this before—but she can't quite place why. He's the one who should have been doing this in the first place. She doesn't regret what she did, but...
She feels even more guilty as he leans down to her level, and for a brief moment, Lux hesitates as a war of pride versus practicality wages in her head. She wants to be strong, to show that she's fine (she's not, but that doesn't matter); but she doesn't want to brush off his offer. Pressing her lips together, she gives Akira a nod before using him for support.
The entrance to the sewers isn't far, and amidst the chaos, they manage to get there unnoticed. Lux does her best to keep up, pushing her way through even as her adrenaline starts to wane. She is unusually quiet when they reach the resistance, and when they leave as well, her mind a muddled mess between the pain, and knowing that she screwed up. ]
[ He's grateful that she accepts the help with only a moment of hesitation. Stubbornness would only slow them down in this case, especially when Akira wouldn't have allowed her to try to move without assistance anyway.
They don't have any choice but to move quickly, or as quickly as they can while he's helping Lux along. It's only after they've dropped the refugees off that he finds a place to rest, letting her lean against a wall. The journey from the orphanage to the sewers has given him time to sort out his emotions a bit, at least.
Akira stays close even after her weight shifts away, ready to assist if needed. ]
Do you think anything's broken? [ This comes first. Lux can't play this off, not when he can feel the distress rolling off her in waves. ] There are some healers in the Resistance. They can look at it...
[ They're probably busy tending to all of the Monsters being brought in, but if it's serious enough, they might be able to spare some attention for her. ]
[ The pace isn't kind to her, but Lux forces her way through regardless. She has to; she can't let the group know about the agony that she's in. It hurts to breathe, and being unable to take a full breath makes her feel light-headed. She wouldn't be able to make it on her own.
When they're finally out of danger, and he ushers her to a wall to lean against, Lux slumps over a bit, taking a breath through clenched teeth as pain lances through her midsection. ]
Don't know. [ She isn't in the right mind to be able to tell either way. She takes a breath before shaking her head, using the wall to try to ease herself up again. ]
It's fine. Just. Give me a moment.
[ The healers already have enough to take care of. She isn't going to burden them. ]
[ The first response is fair enough. She probably can't tell just going off the pain like this.
The second, however... Akira's mouth sets into a line. The concern is still there, but it's now overshadowed by that anger from earlier, only further agitated by the thoughts prickling at the edge of his mind. What if he hasn't made it in time? ]
It's not fine. Don't act like it is.
[ His hands twitch forward as if wanting to inspect the injury himself, but Akira doesn't have anything on him to apply to it, nor can he use healing magic. Stuffing his hands into his pockets, he leans against the wall beside her, close enough that she can lean on him if needed.
He's absolutely going to bring her to the healers, but she probably needs a moment of rest before being dragged around more, and this is a conversation best had with some privacy. ]
This is what I meant about acting on your own. You could've died, Lux.
[ She's never had to deal with something like this. Whenever things went awry, Lux would just keep pressing forward, on her own. Having someone throw her reluctance to rely on them back at her is new; and maybe if she was in such bad shape, she would take this better than she is now. It feels like he's scolding her for doing the right thing. Her safety meant little to nothing in the grand scheme of things.
If she had waited for his approval, the captives would have died. She refuses to let her inactivity be the death of someone. Not again.
Pressing her lips together, Lux carefully tries to take a deep breath, her head bowed as she grimaces. She's frustrated, but it isn't completely directed at him. She would look him in the eye (she should; she wants to), but her head still feels light. It's a testament to her stubbornness that she's still standing like this. ]
What would you have done?
[ It lacks any accusatory bite. She can't convey her intentions over long distances, especially with such a tenuous Bond. ]
[ Of course she's trying to turn this back on him. How can she not understand how needlessly reckless that was? He understands that she wanted to help people, but she can't help anyone when she's dead—
Ah. He knows why that thought sounds familiar. If Lux were looking now, she'd see the frown twitch into a wry smile. He's being contradictory, isn't he? It doesn't completely soothe his fiery emotions, but it makes him reconsider the words about to leave his mouth.
Akira's answer doesn't come immediately. ]
On my own, I would've done the same thing. [ His voice is a bit calmer now, lacking some of the tightly wound anger. He can't deny that he would've come to the same conclusion in different circumstances. ] But when you have a partner, you've just got to... trust that they'll be there when you need them to be.
[ The Phantom Thieves never let him down. He was even able to put his life on the line because he knew they would be able to pull through in the ways he needed them to to make it work. Akira knows Lux would do the same for him. ]
[ If she wanted to turn this around on him, she would have. She might not know much about Akira, but Lux has enough information to make assumptions. But being vindictive has never been her style, and even if she is furious at being scolded, most of her anger has been turned toward herself at this point. What happened to listening to your head instead of your heart, Lux?
The delay between her question and his answer is lost on her, her concept of time at this point near nonexistent. Her head still down and her knees locked to keep her anchored to the spot, Lux doesn't see the way his lips tug upward, or the way he hesitates before responding. But she hears what he has to say, hyper focusing on each word, trying futilely to push her pain away so she can read the tone radiating in his voice and through their Bond.
She isn't completely successful, but one thing manages to pierce through the fog. ]
...
[ A partner. Right. That was the agreement, that they would be equals, and just like she wanted him to rely on her, maybe he wanted her to feel comfortable enough to rely on him as well. This isn't just because she was reckless, it because she got hurt. It's because she couldn't trust him enough to ask for help. ]
...You were.
[ She isn't very good at this. She isn't going to be very good at this overnight. But maybe this is a step in the right direction—if she hasn't managed to screw up this arrangement already. Raising her head up slowly to try to look at him, she lurches forward as the world shifts and her knees start to go, grabbing for his sleeve with both hands.
So, about that whole asking for help thing... ]
I think... I think I need to sit down...
[ And she thought she hated this before. Nope. This is actually the worst. Sorry, she's a mess right now, Akira. ]
[ It takes him a moment to connect her answer to his own words, her other emotions hard to read through the distress pouring through. Warmth presses back against it once he does, and then a jolt of shock when Lux's legs give out on her.
Akira is fast, though. Reflex kicks in, moving his arms to catch her as she does the same to his sleeve. It's too sudden for him to be mindful of her injuries, but any jolt from him grabbing her abruptly is probably better than hitting the hard ground. With a slow exhale to steady himself as well, he begins to lower Lux down carefully. ]
Come on, slowly...
[ If she'll oblige, he'll settle her down, propped up against the wall once more, although Akira's hands linger until he confirms that she's all right. ]
[ Maybe one day they will be able to look back on this and laugh. But right now, she wonders if it would be better if he lets her fall. At least that might put her out of her misery.
She winces as he catches her, taking a sharp breath in anticipation and whimpering when that makes things worse. Bowing her head and briefly gripping his arm tighter, she lets him ease her down to the ground. She doesn't let go immediately, but manages to nod her head. ]
I think so.
[ Just leave her here to die along with her dignity. ]
[ Unfortunately for Lux, he has no intention of leaving her here or allowing her to die. ]
You really need to get this treated...
[ There's a small bump of frustration from him. If he had his Personas, he could just heal her himself. Even a bandage in the Metaverse would be better than having to lug her over to the healers with the Resistance while she's feeling like this. ]
[ She assumes the frustration briefly flickering from Akira is directed at her, and she presses her lips together tightly in response. Lux hesitates before nodding again.
Relying on Resistance healers who are already spread thin isn't a situation she wants to be in, but she isn't in a position to refuse aid. There are other things to be worried about. ]
What will you do, then?
[ They both know he isn't going to just sit back while she gets patched up and the city burns. ]
[ Leave it to Lux to still be thinking about other people while in such a state. His attention shifts down to her middle. He wants to try to peek at it to assess the damage, but without being able to offer any true assistance, it would only cause her extra discomfort. Not to mention probably embarrass her. ]
Once I make sure you're being taken care of... [ That comes first, before anything else. ] Then I'll go back out there and see what else I can do. There are still people who need help out there. [ Akira pauses, meeting her eyes. ] I'll be careful.
[ It's not meant as a jab at her but rather reassurance. Actually, he feels a tiny poke of guilt for how much his anger bubbled over earlier. ]
By the way... I still don't approve of running in on your own, but I'm happy you decided to act.
[ His emotions still clash inside of him, protectiveness pushing back against that sentiment. It doesn't make it any less real, though. ]
[ Sitting down helps a bit, even if it does nothing to alleviate the pain. Her back straight and pressed gently against the wall, Lux is careful not to put any pressure anywhere. She needs to be able to breathe.
Frustration flares from within as he confirms her suspicion. He's going to go back out there, on his own? It doesn't matter if he's being careful; she was careful, and look what happened. In the chaos, it's difficult to make the distinction between friend and foe. ]
And who is going to help if you get in trouble?
[ Her words remain strained and somewhat stilted from her injury, but the weight behind them is unmistakable. It doesn't matter that he's telling her ahead of time, they both know she can't be there to act as support. How does he think that would make her feel?
They're partners, and while she trusts him (more than before, in fact), the hypocrisy here angers her. ]
[ He can sense that feeling radiating off her, but Akira doesn't back down. ]
There's a whole resistance out there. [ Natives of the city, Mirrorbound, some he knows and many he doesn't. ] I won't go into anything alone.
[ He can at least promise her that, even if it probably won't do a whole lot to set her mind at ease. If he thought she could get healed up quickly enough that she wouldn't be more of a liability than a help, he'd wait for her. But there's no way they're going to expend that much energy on one person when there are so many that need help right now. ]
[ She should be out there with them. Out there with him, making sure that, if anything bad were to happen, she could pull both of them out of the fire. But they both know that isn't going to happen, that she will be a low priority once she's patched up. It's what Lux would prefer regardless, but she still wants to have it both ways.
Frustration continues to bubble to the surface, but instead of sitting in it, Lux uses that to try to force herself up. She struggles, her hand grasping at the wall behind her to help her along. Her body feels heavy and unsteady, but she is going to fight through this pain, even if it's clumsy and inelegant. It isn't a side that she wants Akira to see, but what choice does she have? ]
Then... then we should move.
[ She hates this so much, but she refuses to hold him back. But heaven help anyone responsible if he gets hurt while she's forced to sit on the sidelines. ]
[ When she decides that it's time, Akira offers no protest, quickly rising to offer her support once again. Back to the Resistance they go, at a slow pace he enforces. He does need to get back out there, but he isn't going to allow Lux to hurt herself further trying to rush along.
They do indeed have a large number of wounded to tend to, so she essentially has to take a place in line. Akira settles her down to sit against another wall while she waits. How he'd like to stay and keep Lux company through the pain, but that simply isn't an option right now. Still, he pauses, crouching at her side. ]
I won't do anything reckless. I'll make sure I have backup. I give you my word.
[ Does she know what he's offering? It hasn't come up before, but Akira feels himself being bond magically to the promise. It's a weakness he doesn't offer up to just anyone. ]
[ Lux is quiet on the outside, but on this inside she is a churning storm of emotions. Even through their temporary Bond, her thoughts are loud, a mixture of frustration (at herself, mostly), apprehension, and genuine concern all fighting for a place at the front of her mind. She doesn't hesitate to use him as a crutch this time, even if each step brings them closer to something she emphatically doesn't want.
She did this to herself; and even if she doesn't regret saving the Monsters locked away in that orphanage, knowing that she has to divert attention away from people who matter far more bothers her. But she knows better than to voice that around Akira.
Settling down where he places her, Lux expects that to be it. Even when he crouches down to her level, she expects a few words at most. He'll be back, just wait here in the dark, and feel every right or wrong move he makes vibrate through their tightly-stretched Bond.
But that's not what happens. She raises her head suddenly, looking at him in bewilderment. He's giving her his word... Lux may not know about how honor-bound Puca are, but even she can tell that this isn't something he would do for just anyone. ]
...I know. [ With a little more certainty. ] I know you will.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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Unfortunately, that leaves them little time to finish clearing the place out. Akira is on his way back in to do just that when he feels it: distress pulsing suddenly in his chest, an emotion that's not his own.
Lux.
It pulls him in without a second thought. He's off, tearing through the hallways as fast as he can, no regard for the smoke that fills his lungs. Why isn't she with the kids like she was supposed to be? No, he knows why. Lux wanted to do more. She's doing more.
The sight that greets him among the cages turns his blood cold, only for it to boil once more as he springs into action. In no time, he's yanking the harpy off of her, twisting one of those winged arms behind his back with a snap of delicate bone and a subsequent shriek of pain. ]
She's not with the Coven! We're trying to get you to safety.
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Then a lot happens all at once. The weight pinning her down is lifted, and she takes a deep, labored gasp of air before curling on her side with a pained shudder. She hears the Harpy yelp in pain, and Akira's sharp tone cut through the fog in her head.
The Harpy's attention quickly flits between the two of them, as he tries to free himself from Akira's grasp. That statement clearly isn't a lie (he would know if it was), but he still doesn't seem to be thinking straight. ]
It— [ She takes a shaky breath, slowly trying to pull herself up. ] It's all right. It's my fault.
[ Considering she's the one on the ground, it's not a very strong argument. ]
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It's not your fault. [ Akira can't imagine her doing anything worse than startling or confusing the Monster, and neither of those things would merit being nearly choked out on the floor.
But his attention can't stay on Lux, not when they need to get out of here before the entire place is engulfed. There's no way he's leaving without this harpy; they came here to guide them to safety, after all. His next words are addressed to his squirming captive, grip shifting so that he can thrust an arm out on display. Maybe if the harpy sees that Akira is also a Monster, it'll calm him down somewhat. ]
Look! Let us help you.
[ Between Lux's insistence on taking the blame and the sight of Akira's fur, he seems to be slowly coming down from that frantic state, although there's still plenty of tension wound tight in his frame. If Akira lets go too soon, he might still try to fight or bolt.
The tone of his voice shifts from taut with anger and tinged with panic to something more calm. ]
Come with us. If you try to go off on your own, the military or Witches might catch you. We know a place where it's safe.
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It's not a great situation, but at least he isn't attacking anyone.
Lux is slower to ease herself up. Adrenaline masks most of it, but the pain starting to trickle in is concerning. She tries to make her movements seem more purposeful rather than strained, keeping her head bowed as she grits her teeth. ]
We need to move.
[ She can't keep the discomfort out of her voice, and as she takes a deep (worryingly painful) breath, she forces herself to her feet. This is fine, she's fine. She can push through; but this is going to hurt when she comes down.
She turns her attention towards Akira, a deep frown set on her face. ]
Everyone should be gone by now. [ A beat, and a shallow breath. ] Can you help me?
[ Having someone who isn't a Witch freeing the Monsters here might be a good idea... and she's not sure she can physically take any more "surprises" like the one earlier. ]
no subject
But the harpy finally goes still in his grip, and that seems to be one concern taken off the table. In its place now is the strain he can hear lining Lux's words—and, most of all, an actual earnest request for help leaving her mouth.
He wants to blame the Monster inside of him when irritation boils up in response, chalk it up to the ugly feelings that rear their heads more and more often as he continues to transform, but regardless of what causes it, all he can think about is the conversation they had before coming here. ]
Now you want my help. [ It's a bit louder than a murmur, and Akira clamps his mouth shut the moment the words are out. It's not the time for that, not when the window to escape the flames grows more and more narrow by the second.
He shakes his head as if trying to cast off those thoughts, briefly turning his attention to the harpy. ]
Stay close to us, but if we get separated for any reason... We're headed to the sewers. There's a resistance faction down there.
[ And with that, he finally relinquishes his grip, approaching Lux with an expression that probably can't even convey this inexplicable mix of anger, concern, relief, and contrition. ]
You have a key?
no subject
Ah, she messed up. But if she hadn't come down here, it's very likely these Monsters wouldn't have been saved.
Her gaze pulling away when he approaches, she tries to act like normal. But her posture is way too rigid to be natural. Lux forces herself to look up at him, a jumbled mess of regret and discomfort rolling off her. Holding out her hand, she offers the key she had been clutching out to him. ]
...Yes, I do.
[ Have a key—and need his help. ]
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I'll be done in no time. [ It's a small reassurance, but a reassurance nonetheless.
It really doesn't take him long to unlock the remaining cages and usher the Monsters inside out. Fortunately, the harpy seems like the most aggressive of all of them, the rest simply appearing dazed or afraid. They're apparently willing to follow, though, at least if it means escaping the fire.
Akira returns to Lux's side, where he leans down a bit to offer her his shoulders for support. ]
Come on.
no subject
It's a relief that the rest of the captives go willingly, although she suspects that his presence may have something to do with it. Being a Monster himself probably helps, but he seems like he's done something like this before—but she can't quite place why. He's the one who should have been doing this in the first place. She doesn't regret what she did, but...
She feels even more guilty as he leans down to her level, and for a brief moment, Lux hesitates as a war of pride versus practicality wages in her head. She wants to be strong, to show that she's fine (she's not, but that doesn't matter); but she doesn't want to brush off his offer. Pressing her lips together, she gives Akira a nod before using him for support.
The entrance to the sewers isn't far, and amidst the chaos, they manage to get there unnoticed. Lux does her best to keep up, pushing her way through even as her adrenaline starts to wane. She is unusually quiet when they reach the resistance, and when they leave as well, her mind a muddled mess between the pain, and knowing that she screwed up. ]
no subject
They don't have any choice but to move quickly, or as quickly as they can while he's helping Lux along. It's only after they've dropped the refugees off that he finds a place to rest, letting her lean against a wall. The journey from the orphanage to the sewers has given him time to sort out his emotions a bit, at least.
Akira stays close even after her weight shifts away, ready to assist if needed. ]
Do you think anything's broken? [ This comes first. Lux can't play this off, not when he can feel the distress rolling off her in waves. ] There are some healers in the Resistance. They can look at it...
[ They're probably busy tending to all of the Monsters being brought in, but if it's serious enough, they might be able to spare some attention for her. ]
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When they're finally out of danger, and he ushers her to a wall to lean against, Lux slumps over a bit, taking a breath through clenched teeth as pain lances through her midsection. ]
Don't know. [ She isn't in the right mind to be able to tell either way. She takes a breath before shaking her head, using the wall to try to ease herself up again. ]
It's fine. Just. Give me a moment.
[ The healers already have enough to take care of. She isn't going to burden them. ]
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The second, however... Akira's mouth sets into a line. The concern is still there, but it's now overshadowed by that anger from earlier, only further agitated by the thoughts prickling at the edge of his mind. What if he hasn't made it in time? ]
It's not fine. Don't act like it is.
[ His hands twitch forward as if wanting to inspect the injury himself, but Akira doesn't have anything on him to apply to it, nor can he use healing magic. Stuffing his hands into his pockets, he leans against the wall beside her, close enough that she can lean on him if needed.
He's absolutely going to bring her to the healers, but she probably needs a moment of rest before being dragged around more, and this is a conversation best had with some privacy. ]
This is what I meant about acting on your own. You could've died, Lux.
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If she had waited for his approval, the captives would have died. She refuses to let her inactivity be the death of someone. Not again.
Pressing her lips together, Lux carefully tries to take a deep breath, her head bowed as she grimaces. She's frustrated, but it isn't completely directed at him. She would look him in the eye (she should; she wants to), but her head still feels light. It's a testament to her stubbornness that she's still standing like this. ]
What would you have done?
[ It lacks any accusatory bite. She can't convey her intentions over long distances, especially with such a tenuous Bond. ]
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Ah. He knows why that thought sounds familiar. If Lux were looking now, she'd see the frown twitch into a wry smile. He's being contradictory, isn't he? It doesn't completely soothe his fiery emotions, but it makes him reconsider the words about to leave his mouth.
Akira's answer doesn't come immediately. ]
On my own, I would've done the same thing. [ His voice is a bit calmer now, lacking some of the tightly wound anger. He can't deny that he would've come to the same conclusion in different circumstances. ] But when you have a partner, you've just got to... trust that they'll be there when you need them to be.
[ The Phantom Thieves never let him down. He was even able to put his life on the line because he knew they would be able to pull through in the ways he needed them to to make it work. Akira knows Lux would do the same for him. ]
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The delay between her question and his answer is lost on her, her concept of time at this point near nonexistent. Her head still down and her knees locked to keep her anchored to the spot, Lux doesn't see the way his lips tug upward, or the way he hesitates before responding. But she hears what he has to say, hyper focusing on each word, trying futilely to push her pain away so she can read the tone radiating in his voice and through their Bond.
She isn't completely successful, but one thing manages to pierce through the fog. ]
...
[ A partner. Right. That was the agreement, that they would be equals, and just like she wanted him to rely on her, maybe he wanted her to feel comfortable enough to rely on him as well. This isn't just because she was reckless, it because she got hurt. It's because she couldn't trust him enough to ask for help. ]
...You were.
[ She isn't very good at this. She isn't going to be very good at this overnight. But maybe this is a step in the right direction—if she hasn't managed to screw up this arrangement already. Raising her head up slowly to try to look at him, she lurches forward as the world shifts and her knees start to go, grabbing for his sleeve with both hands.
So, about that whole asking for help thing... ]
I think... I think I need to sit down...
[ And she thought she hated this before. Nope. This is actually the worst. Sorry, she's a mess right now, Akira. ]
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Akira is fast, though. Reflex kicks in, moving his arms to catch her as she does the same to his sleeve. It's too sudden for him to be mindful of her injuries, but any jolt from him grabbing her abruptly is probably better than hitting the hard ground. With a slow exhale to steady himself as well, he begins to lower Lux down carefully. ]
Come on, slowly...
[ If she'll oblige, he'll settle her down, propped up against the wall once more, although Akira's hands linger until he confirms that she's all right. ]
Good?
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She winces as he catches her, taking a sharp breath in anticipation and whimpering when that makes things worse. Bowing her head and briefly gripping his arm tighter, she lets him ease her down to the ground. She doesn't let go immediately, but manages to nod her head. ]
I think so.
[ Just leave her here to die along with her dignity. ]
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You really need to get this treated...
[ There's a small bump of frustration from him. If he had his Personas, he could just heal her himself. Even a bandage in the Metaverse would be better than having to lug her over to the healers with the Resistance while she's feeling like this. ]
Rest for a few minutes first, though.
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Relying on Resistance healers who are already spread thin isn't a situation she wants to be in, but she isn't in a position to refuse aid. There are other things to be worried about. ]
What will you do, then?
[ They both know he isn't going to just sit back while she gets patched up and the city burns. ]
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Once I make sure you're being taken care of... [ That comes first, before anything else. ] Then I'll go back out there and see what else I can do. There are still people who need help out there. [ Akira pauses, meeting her eyes. ] I'll be careful.
[ It's not meant as a jab at her but rather reassurance. Actually, he feels a tiny poke of guilt for how much his anger bubbled over earlier. ]
By the way... I still don't approve of running in on your own, but I'm happy you decided to act.
[ His emotions still clash inside of him, protectiveness pushing back against that sentiment. It doesn't make it any less real, though. ]
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Frustration flares from within as he confirms her suspicion. He's going to go back out there, on his own? It doesn't matter if he's being careful; she was careful, and look what happened. In the chaos, it's difficult to make the distinction between friend and foe. ]
And who is going to help if you get in trouble?
[ Her words remain strained and somewhat stilted from her injury, but the weight behind them is unmistakable. It doesn't matter that he's telling her ahead of time, they both know she can't be there to act as support. How does he think that would make her feel?
They're partners, and while she trusts him (more than before, in fact), the hypocrisy here angers her. ]
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There's a whole resistance out there. [ Natives of the city, Mirrorbound, some he knows and many he doesn't. ] I won't go into anything alone.
[ He can at least promise her that, even if it probably won't do a whole lot to set her mind at ease. If he thought she could get healed up quickly enough that she wouldn't be more of a liability than a help, he'd wait for her. But there's no way they're going to expend that much energy on one person when there are so many that need help right now. ]
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Frustration continues to bubble to the surface, but instead of sitting in it, Lux uses that to try to force herself up. She struggles, her hand grasping at the wall behind her to help her along. Her body feels heavy and unsteady, but she is going to fight through this pain, even if it's clumsy and inelegant. It isn't a side that she wants Akira to see, but what choice does she have? ]
Then... then we should move.
[ She hates this so much, but she refuses to hold him back. But heaven help anyone responsible if he gets hurt while she's forced to sit on the sidelines. ]
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They do indeed have a large number of wounded to tend to, so she essentially has to take a place in line. Akira settles her down to sit against another wall while she waits. How he'd like to stay and keep Lux company through the pain, but that simply isn't an option right now. Still, he pauses, crouching at her side. ]
I won't do anything reckless. I'll make sure I have backup. I give you my word.
[ Does she know what he's offering? It hasn't come up before, but Akira feels himself being bond magically to the promise. It's a weakness he doesn't offer up to just anyone. ]
I'll come back soon, Lux.
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She did this to herself; and even if she doesn't regret saving the Monsters locked away in that orphanage, knowing that she has to divert attention away from people who matter far more bothers her. But she knows better than to voice that around Akira.
Settling down where he places her, Lux expects that to be it. Even when he crouches down to her level, she expects a few words at most. He'll be back, just wait here in the dark, and feel every right or wrong move he makes vibrate through their tightly-stretched Bond.
But that's not what happens. She raises her head suddenly, looking at him in bewilderment. He's giving her his word... Lux may not know about how honor-bound Puca are, but even she can tell that this isn't something he would do for just anyone. ]
...I know. [ With a little more certainty. ] I know you will.
[ She's going to hold him to that. ]