[He'd done so well to maintain his balance until now. Welp. One kick from Mikey, and his ass hits the dock again. His makeshift fishing pole thuds against the wood beside him.
It hits him then, in concert with the physical impact, that he's not just in some alternate timeline that he can change, that he's not just looking at Mikey's potential future but at Mikey himself. Mikey is dead, and so is he. He failed.
Even after everything he tried, even after giving everything he had to give...
He still failed.
Mikey wasn't trying to slip away because he wanted to be alone. Of course, it was because he's angry.
His temple throbs from the kick. Even when he's holding back, Mikey's attacks are merciless. The notion that he deserves much worse slips through his guard, and his hands tighten to fists, knuckles scraping against the dock.]
Then... Nothing changed? [His voice quivers with restrained emotion.] Even after everything, I couldn't save you?
no subject
It hits him then, in concert with the physical impact, that he's not just in some alternate timeline that he can change, that he's not just looking at Mikey's potential future but at Mikey himself. Mikey is dead, and so is he. He failed.
Even after everything he tried, even after giving everything he had to give...
He still failed.
Mikey wasn't trying to slip away because he wanted to be alone. Of course, it was because he's angry.
His temple throbs from the kick. Even when he's holding back, Mikey's attacks are merciless. The notion that he deserves much worse slips through his guard, and his hands tighten to fists, knuckles scraping against the dock.]
Then... Nothing changed? [His voice quivers with restrained emotion.] Even after everything, I couldn't save you?