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[All the years of needing to keep Apollo from hijacking his body to say embarrassing things has finely honed Harumasa's instincts. He manages to immediately and instinctively disconnect the call before the yelling starts.]

Rude!!

How are you feeling, by the way?

[Goddammit Apollo, fucking up his revenge snitch.

Ragna's responses come slow via text, but they come nonetheless.]

stop dragging your ass then

im sick of the damn hospital but im alive at least

I think that's a normal response.

Sorry I haven't visited you. Hospitals give me the creeps for some reason.

[He knows the reason. He just won't admit it.]

worry more about yourself than visiting. what the hell were you thinking going in there!? even aside from the magic energy that place had seithr fucking everywhere, you idiot!

[Just because he appreciated Harumasa didn't mean Ragna wouldn't call out that absolute recklessness. And sure pot meet kettle but shh.]

[Ah. Now it's gotten to a serious topic. Harumasa checks to see if the coast is clear before he calls Ragna instead.]

Figured it'd be easier to have this over a voice chat. And... well. I think it's in better taste to have you hear me than read about it.

[He makes himself more comfortable as his joints start to hurt.]

Listen. You risked a lot to save some kid you didn't even know, and we're both aware that wasn't why you came to that facility. ... But you still took a risk to free that kid from the isolated, windowless hospital room he'd been kept in and show him what the sky looked like, what the wind felt like. That kid could've been as evil as the people he'd been under the care of. He could've sold you out, taken a knife to your throat, slowed you down at a critical moment, anything.

But you still saved him.

[Harumasa hugs his knees as he makes himself small in his hiding place. He remembers having to do this before as a kid sometimes. Either for playing or because he needed to steal something without getting caught by the adults in the facility. In a strange, twisted way, it feels almost nostalgic.]

I wanted to reach that same hand back. I wanted to show that man that he didn't make a mistake in saving that kid, and that the kid he saved became stronger for it.

[Ragna had a feeling about where this was going. He at least lowered the volume a bit to avoid Kuni overhearing. But the face he was making on the other side of the phone towards Harumasa was baffled like he was stating the obvious.

Of course Ragna knew this kid could have been his enemy down the line. He'd just handle that when the time came. He didn't think about the future much, he just thought about the here and now.]

That's all hypothetical bullshit I don't bother thinking about. Why bother when there's shit to do like seeing a kid there who was gonna die anyway if he wasn't let out?

[It was so simple, but that simplicity made Ragna who he was. He's not a planner, he's an improviser.]

I didn't save you thinking you'd to crazy shit like this, but it wasn't my business what you did anyway. I told you back then you were free to do what you want, but I'm not just gonna watch you do something stupid as hell and not call it stupid as hell. You didn't owe me anything, Harumasa. I'd rather you kept yourself safe for your siblings.

[There's a long pause as Ragna looked at his right arm that was no longer there.]

... But I'm not saying I don't appreciate it. Especially considering what had to be done. [His tone was grave, fully knowing the weight of what he asked Harumasa to do but glad that he didn't hesitate.]

[Harumasa can't help laughing. It's gentle, though, despite the amusement he has towards how in the present his friend is.]

Because I can't help it. Not anymore. When all I did in my childhood was look to other people's pasts and futures, being in the present was... a novelty. Some days it felt like the privilege of other people to live solely in the present.

[He reaches up for the first time with his free hand to fidget slightly with the silver charm on his choker. Not out of nervousness, but... as a reminder.]

But I did owe you, Ragna. You gave me my future back. I've now repaid you for it, I think. So, that's one less regret I have on my list.

[The young man closes his eyes when Ragna gives that implied reminder of what he had to do. He still remembers the feeling of cutting through his friend's arm. How easily his blades sliced through his flesh. How it felt under his hands. Sometimes when he closes his eyes, Harumasa can taste the blood and seithr on his tongue.

It makes him feel sick as a tear slowly falls from his eyes. It reminds him... of what he asked Belle a̴͍͐n̷̹͌d̵̖͝ ̴͙̈́W̴͉͐i̵̺̇s̴̜̔ê̵͕ in a different life.

"But if one day I become sick and turn into an Ethereal... Don't frown, we all know that day's gonna come sooner or later. When that happens, and if you're around... I hope you can do me a small favor and end my life. Don't leave me wandering forever as an Ethereal in a Hollow. Please~?"

Though his voice is steady, it's so quiet.]

The alternative was to let you suffer for longer than you needed to. So I'll never hesitate when the method of mercy isn't kind or gentle. [His tone brightens slightly, gently teasing yet utterly sincere:] But I hope you'll forgive me for hoping that you never have to ask me to do that again~

It's your privilege now. You only need to look as far as you want to and of your own volition. That's what I saved you for. To make your own choices.

You still have time to. [...] Both of us do, even if it's not as much time as everyone else. Don't go talking like you're already on your last legs.

[There were some days where Ragna... thought more than usual. They were rare as he quashed them quickly, but he still wondered in that time how Harumasa was doing. Where he was, if he was still alive even considering he knew how fast that illness could progress.

Maybe Ragna ought to have apologized for asking something like that of Harumasa. Cutting through his arm like it was nothing. It was a quick job, one that made Ragna's trauma spike in remembering it was cut off the same way in his past life. By his own brother no less...

But apologizing wouldn't make it any less necessary. It wouldn't make him have an arm again. In the end, Ragna was just thankful it was done.]

Believe me, I'm not trying to have that happen again.

[He laughs, bright and soft.]

I see why you bonded to the resident god of freedom! Don't worry, though. I'm not about to squander the gift you gave me. Bit by bit, I'm reclaiming what they took and living my life to the fullest.

[He smiles a little, though Ragna can't see it. There's always been a sword poised over his head, but he feels its presence more keenly the closer he gets to his 26th birthday. But he's not scared of it. Harumasa has long accepted its presence in his life. He's going to continue living until the sword finally falls. Whether it's deflected or claims him... he'll make the most of it. He'll give his loved ones as much time as he possibly can, either to find a way to remove the sword... or to make their peace with him.

But he doesn't talk about how long he has left. It'll matter when it matters, and not a day sooner.]

Hey, hey, I'm still kicking, aren't I? Full of vim and vigor!

[Harumasa sighs dramatically.]

Phew, didn't mean to make it so heavy. Sorry about that! Hey, when you're discharged, let's all go watch a movie! A little movie marathon to celebrate and everyone can pick a favorite movie to watch~

More like "got conscripted by". [Ragna says this, but he wasn't being serious and it showed in how his tone went to his default of annoyed. Venti was irritating, as bad as Harumasa if not worse. But they had something important in common: the spirit of rebellion. Of course they would bond. And Ragna would never go back on his word with their pact. Whatever comes next, he'll stay by Venti.

Ragna didn't point out his own limited lifespan, he was just glad Harumasa could reclaim his lost time with his family. Ragna... well it might be too late for him to get ten years back when the BlazBlue corrupted him far past recovery. He could go out any time now.

But he would try. He would figure something out. If nothing else.

He was glad to have people now. He was happy to have Harumasa in his life. Even if he and others would lose Ragna soon.

Not that he'd say that to them, of course.]

Yeah, you're still a royal pain in my ass. [Case in point.

He did smile a bit. But quickly hid that, thank god this was voice.]

You're gonna have to get in line, Blade's trying to force me into a damn Gundam marathon. [That's... not a no at least?]

[Harumasa laughs at that. He knows that tone very well at this point.

... Casually, because he knows it'll get a rise out of Ragna if it doesn't go over his dear, sweet asexual head:]

Oh, no, you have to be a pain in my ass. I thought I made that obvious~

Anyway, Blade's welcome to join us on the celebratory movie marathon! I'm sure there's a standalone Gundam movie.

Huh?

[...?]

[... FUCK. (NAT 20)]

THAT'S NOT WHAT I FUCKING MEANT.

[They were having a fucking MOMENT HERE. Is it too late for Aoko to take him back and explode again.]

[Harumasa laughs, honest and bright, at Ragna's reaction when it sinks in. Even though it draws attention from his fey pursuers, he doesn't regret it. There's some faint noise that can be picked up on his phone mic.]

I gotta go, they're onto me. But we're definitely planning this once we're both free! Talk to you soon, Ragna~

[And he ends the call right as the door opens for him to face the music. Whining dramatically as they drag him back on stage from his extended break.]

You shitheel--!

[And then Harumasa disconnected. And Ragna just fucking rubbed his temples at how much of a fucking menace this man is, laying back and covering his eyes with his one arm.]

[Fucking headache that one and all these fucking idiots he's gotta deal with.

But for some fuckass reason, he found himself smiling anyway.]

Pain in the fucking ass...

ic contact: kaisou

Voice > Text LMFAO

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