[ He shakes his head, something gently dismissive in his expression. ]
I didn't have it nearly as bad as most people.
[ He didn't... die. He lived while some of them were tortured into their final moments. He still sees Dio getting crushed, Kurama's... body dropping to the floor after he chose to take his own life... instead of letting them--
The expression remains steady as he very calmly reaches out; he gives a gentle scratch to the head of the chicken closest to him.
When will he stop feeling suffocated by the memories, he wonders.
Then his hand jerks; a... hero?
He doesn't even notice that he startled the chicken at first, but an apologetic expression dimly surfaces on his face. He quickly pulls his hand back as he realizes how tense it looks.
For just a fraction of a second, his entire body is rigid, but he forces his shoulders to ease back down. His expression relaxes as another distant smile surfaces - this time, it's carrying a hint of something.
... Sadness, bitterness, guilt...
Akira doesn't look at Prompto as he speaks in a deceptively calm voice. ]
You think so, huh?
[ Okay, he's... fine. He looks to Prompto, a hint of sheepishness smothering out the other emotions, though there's still a hint of them beneath the surface. ]
cw: death, suicide, survivor's guilt, general murdergame shit?????
I didn't have it nearly as bad as most people.
[ He didn't... die. He lived while some of them were tortured into their final moments. He still sees Dio getting crushed, Kurama's... body dropping to the floor after he chose to take his own life... instead of letting them--
The expression remains steady as he very calmly reaches out; he gives a gentle scratch to the head of the chicken closest to him.
When will he stop feeling suffocated by the memories, he wonders.
Then his hand jerks; a... hero?
He doesn't even notice that he startled the chicken at first, but an apologetic expression dimly surfaces on his face. He quickly pulls his hand back as he realizes how tense it looks.
For just a fraction of a second, his entire body is rigid, but he forces his shoulders to ease back down. His expression relaxes as another distant smile surfaces - this time, it's carrying a hint of something.
... Sadness, bitterness, guilt...
Akira doesn't look at Prompto as he speaks in a deceptively calm voice. ]
You think so, huh?
[ Okay, he's... fine. He looks to Prompto, a hint of sheepishness smothering out the other emotions, though there's still a hint of them beneath the surface. ]
I'm not so sure about that.