[He presses a hand to the bleeding wound Crow's left of his heart, not that it helps any, and he's losing all strength to even do that. It drops almost as fast as he raises it.
He's fully collapsed against the wall, blinking rapidly. His heart would be hammering in confusion if it could, probably. It's a good thing shock is going to shut his brain down before he has to experience dying of blood loss, but he has a couple seconds to stare at Crow, tears falling down his face freely.
His mouth works a few times, but he has no cool or wise or angry things to say. He's just... Hurt. And dying. And upset about it, with the betrayal sinking in to allow one, chocked, almost voiceless sob before he falls, shock shutting down his system. He'll be fully dead in a minute, but he's effectively dead already.]
[ Tatsuya's crying too, tears falling freely even as he steadies the sword in his hand. He doesn't have time to mourn right now. He doesn't have time for the hurt and betrayal buzzing through his system, doesn't have time for even the sob that escapes from him. ]
Crow.
[ It's a heartbroken sound. They'd been talking about how much they love Crow and it's true, it's still true. He'll understand and later, he'll even be able to forgive probably.
But right now it just hurts.
He's using Eris Alert even as he's trying to focus through the tears-- Hey Crow, how do you feel right now? ]
[He feels horrible, thanks. Guilty and sad and frustrated -- He hates it, being put in these positions. But he's terrified of what happens if he doesn't fight. He has to protect his unit, not just from this but from the potential of another episode of reality falling apart. He's going to murder a lot of demons as soon as he gets the chance but right now he just has to protect people as well as he can, which unfortunately means doing this.
They'll heal, anyway. And they'll be mad and maybe hate him but that's okay cause he hates himself a lot already.
But he's still catching Rean as he falls. And he's taking a moment to hold him and kiss his forehead, setting him down gently.]
I love you. Sorry about this.
[And then he's looking up at Tatsuya with quiet, clear intent.]
This isn't the kind of sword I'm used to. You might beat me.
[Crow's not crying but that's because he's too good at bottling things, and too prideful to show his pain. He doesn't deserve to cry anyway. He's the one choosing to hurt them. And since he's made that choice, and gone through with it, he can't stop halfway. He has to win.
He's standing up straight with that in mind, and taking stance.]
[ And through the tears, the hurt, and the pain-- he takes a slash at Crow. It's targeted to incapacitate rather than to kill-- he knows it's a fight to the death, but his heart isn't into killing Crow.
He is pretty good with this kind of sword, as it turns out. ]
[He's prepared, so he blocks that one with his arm -- which wouldn't work except there's a piano wire wrapped around it, so it does stop it enough that he's getting more bruised than cut.
He uses that arm to try to shove Tatsuya back, even if it means letting the sword bite into his arm a bit, so he can come in with a swing at the gut.]
[ He figured he'd get a swing back, but didn't figure on the gut-- so while he tries to dodge, it's only partially a success and he's got a not-insignificant gut wound. It's not immediately fatal, so he's willing to ignore it in favour of stabbing at one of Crow's legs. ]
[That one hits! He should go down, really, and he will soon but he's determined to end it quickly, so he's rushing forward and counting on superior strength as he tries to get in and go for the throat. He doesn't want Tatsuya to suffer too much so he's doing his best to win with as few injuries as possible.]
[ Crow is, in fact, stronger than Tatsuya-- and while Tatsuya's faster, he wasn't expecting Crow to come at him this soon. The blow to his throat hits, and he makes a surprised choking sound as the sword drops from his hand. ]
[Great! Not emotionally great but effective great. He's catching Tatsuya before he can fall, too, but he's also ruthlessly and efficiently cutting his throat as deeply as possible. He knows how bleeding out feels and he wants it to be fast.]
...I really am sorry, Tatsuya. I'll accept all your anger when this is over.
[ He's fading fast, but he's trying feebly to grab for Crow even as the light's fading from his eyes. He can't speak with his throat cut like this, but he's trying anyway-- and if Crow can lip read, he might see the words "I still love you" form.
But everything's getting dark and he's getting cold, and he surrenders to the cold comfort that death brings with it. ]
[He can see it but he really doesn't want to! That just hurts. This whole fucking thing hurts.
And so does his leg so he's letting himself collapse. He's just gonna pull himself and Tatsuya over to Rean so he can sit right next to both of them while he's having a nice private internal breakdown. He hates this. He hates games and he hates this place and he hates himself. He can only hope this doesn't prove pointless, because he's not going to forget sitting here in the silence covered in their blood.]
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Re: THE LABYRINTH
...I have to.
[But it's pretty obviously making him miserable, even while he's yanking the sword back out and flicking blood off onto the floor.]
We can't just not play. You guys know that better than anybody.
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He's fully collapsed against the wall, blinking rapidly. His heart would be hammering in confusion if it could, probably. It's a good thing shock is going to shut his brain down before he has to experience dying of blood loss, but he has a couple seconds to stare at Crow, tears falling down his face freely.
His mouth works a few times, but he has no cool or wise or angry things to say. He's just... Hurt. And dying. And upset about it, with the betrayal sinking in to allow one, chocked, almost voiceless sob before he falls, shock shutting down his system. He'll be fully dead in a minute, but he's effectively dead already.]
Re: THE LABYRINTH
Crow.
[ It's a heartbroken sound. They'd been talking about how much they love Crow and it's true, it's still true. He'll understand and later, he'll even be able to forgive probably.
But right now it just hurts.
He's using Eris Alert even as he's trying to focus through the tears-- Hey Crow, how do you feel right now? ]
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They'll heal, anyway. And they'll be mad and maybe hate him but that's okay cause he hates himself a lot already.
But he's still catching Rean as he falls. And he's taking a moment to hold him and kiss his forehead, setting him down gently.]
I love you. Sorry about this.
[And then he's looking up at Tatsuya with quiet, clear intent.]
...Are you going to fight me?
Re: THE LABYRINTH
He nods slightly. ]
I love you... but I can't let you kill me.
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[Crow's not crying but that's because he's too good at bottling things, and too prideful to show his pain. He doesn't deserve to cry anyway. He's the one choosing to hurt them. And since he's made that choice, and gone through with it, he can't stop halfway. He has to win.
He's standing up straight with that in mind, and taking stance.]
But I can't let this be a waste.
Re: THE LABYRINTH
[ And through the tears, the hurt, and the pain-- he takes a slash at Crow. It's targeted to incapacitate rather than to kill-- he knows it's a fight to the death, but his heart isn't into killing Crow.
He is pretty good with this kind of sword, as it turns out. ]
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He uses that arm to try to shove Tatsuya back, even if it means letting the sword bite into his arm a bit, so he can come in with a swing at the gut.]
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...I really am sorry, Tatsuya. I'll accept all your anger when this is over.
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But everything's getting dark and he's getting cold, and he surrenders to the cold comfort that death brings with it. ]
Re: THE LABYRINTH
And so does his leg so he's letting himself collapse. He's just gonna pull himself and Tatsuya over to Rean so he can sit right next to both of them while he's having a nice private internal breakdown. He hates this. He hates games and he hates this place and he hates himself. He can only hope this doesn't prove pointless, because he's not going to forget sitting here in the silence covered in their blood.]