14th side; dead au yousuke; action

[masukukunai]

Why...

[He wanders, bruised and battered, glasses cracked and skewed. White eyes peeled in wide, unflinching terror. Stumbling and staggering through fractured worlds that he barely registers, just trying to move forward, just trying to get away.]

Why...!

[He falls to his knees, and after a few faltering tries, doesn't bother to get back up.]

We were, we were... It was supposed to be over! He was the one, and we took care of it, when no-one else would, and...

[A sob chokes, whithers and dies in his throat. The sound is unbearable, like an animal slowly bleeding out.]

It wasn't supposed to end like this...

Comments

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji's guessed by now why Yousuke's here and he's quiet for a moment, considering how to say it or whether he should say it at all.

But he has to. He won't lie to Yousuke. So he lets out a breath slowly before speaking.]

You're dead, too.

[masukukunai]

[...Oh.]

[Dead. He should be upset about that, shouldn't he? On a basic level he is. You know, no longer living. But knowing that he's dead when everyone else is too is a strange relief. He's also paid the price for whatever mistake that was made. He hadn't been left behind, and he hadn't left anyone behind either.]

[But they're dead. In the end, no one was a hero. Their efforts were fruitless. And everyone was victim.]

[He takes a deep breath, and begins to cry.]

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji holds him and strokes his hair. After a few moments, he speaks again.]

There were timelines in which we won.

[masukukunai]

[He leans into Souji like a man truly exhausted, and just cries. The closure is immense. With time, the painful noises die down, and it's just his shuddering breathing and unbroken tears left.]

[It takes him some time to regain the composure to respond.]

...timelines?

[eatsyourscience]

Versions of our world where things were different.

[masukukunai]

And everyone's okay?

[eatsyourscience]

Yeah. Everyone came through okay.

[masukukunai]

[He wonders for a brief moment, then why am I here? But it feels like a needless question. This is just how things are.]

[He closes his eyes.]

That's good.

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji puts his hand on top of Yousuke's head.]

It might not give you much hope now. [But it's something.]

[masukukunai]

[He shakes his head.]

There's something wrong here, right? [It's taking all of his strength to articulate, but he can grasp it. Slowly he works through the words like his tongue is wrapped in cotton.] You're not dead.

[eatsyourscience]

No, I'm not.

[He doesn't really get what's happening either, but he doesn't think it's that important, honestly. It's just part of the event. Be that as it may, this Yousuke is here and so is he. That's all he needs to know.]

[masukukunai]

Then you'll take care of this? So I can leave?

[As far as he knows, he's been here for an eternity. Trapped in this single space of memory. He just wanted to be where he belonged, even if the outcome wasn't what they worked for. He trusted they'd still all be together in the end.]

[eatsyourscience]

...Yeah. I'll take care of things.

[masukukunai]

Thank you.

[He trusts him. He always trusted him. One way or another, this will end.]

[eatsyourscience]

I can stay with you until then.

[masukukunai]

You shouldn't waste your time...

[eatsyourscience]

I'm not.

[masukukunai]

This place's got nothing left. I'm dead. You should go.

[Things are right where you're from. You shouldn't linger here. Not for me. This is my fault.]

[eatsyourscience]

We both have time. We're both here.

[masukukunai]

[It's obvious this pains him. He wants Souji's company. More than anything. But he doesn't feel that he deserves it. That this is wrong.]

That's fine. I'll be here forever. Go.

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji frowns, then stands up.]

...If that's what you want.

[The way he says it, it's obvious he knows better.]

...It isn't your fault, Yousuke.

[masukukunai]

[There's a long silence.]

...The shadows may gave killed you, but that wasn't when I saw you die.

[He doesn't get up. He looks at the floor.]

It was when you helped me throw him in. I saw it in your eyes. After everything, after Nanako... Your light just went out. I never saw life in you again. If I just hadn't...!

[eatsyourscience]

I made my choices of my own free will. We all did.

[masukukunai]

But what went wrong?

[He looks up with his white eyes, desperately empty, flickering with nothing.]

Something went wrong, Souji! What was it? What did we do? We were just kids, you know? How were we supposed to know this would happen? Why were we the only ones!? Why!?

[eatsyourscience]

[....

Souji crouches down again, looking at Yousuke squarely.]

Mankind was being tested. It was by chance that anyone but me, Adachi, and Namatame got involved.