[ Hear it first she does, as her eyes are on the floor—she can't bring herself to look at him, she feels so guilty—and her ears turn upward just a moment before she feels the hug. When she tries to return it, she finds her outstretched arm so stiff she can barely move it. It isn't just her imagination when something inside her creaks and cracks, and she grits her teeth. She doesn't think she can bring her other arm to move at all.

He's right. She doesn't have enough time. If she'd eaten recently, maybe this wouldn't be the case. But the amount of damage her body's endured has taken its toll. ]

Basil... [ Her voice hitches, catching on his name. It's only because she's cried so much that she doesn't have any more tears to shed, but her eyes sting nevertheless.

And she leans her face into the crook of his neck, as she promises: ] N-next time... It won't be just you. F-for as long- as I can— I'm never gonna let you do something like this b-by yourself, ever, ever again.

[ It's as good of an okay as he's going to get. ]