[It's positively surreal to hear Mikey say those words. When he can't see his face like this, Takemichi can almost imagine he's back to his real self, smiling and energetic as he tries to cheer up one of his own. That thought just makes him cry harder, wet hiccups devolving into wracked sobs.
Just trying isn't enough. He's learned that much in his endless trips to the past. And now that he's failed for the final time, he's so pathetic that even the man who shot him in the back feels obligated to feed him platitudes. It hurts. It hurts so much more than dying.
The little voice in the back of his head says only, "It should."
The little voice is right. It has to hurt. The day it stops hurting, he might just accept those platitudes and give up for real.]
Don't. Don't thank me yet. [He eventually grits out.] I haven't done anything. Not yet.
cw: spoilers
Just trying isn't enough. He's learned that much in his endless trips to the past. And now that he's failed for the final time, he's so pathetic that even the man who shot him in the back feels obligated to feed him platitudes. It hurts. It hurts so much more than dying.
The little voice in the back of his head says only, "It should."
The little voice is right. It has to hurt. The day it stops hurting, he might just accept those platitudes and give up for real.]
Don't. Don't thank me yet. [He eventually grits out.] I haven't done anything. Not yet.