Week 2, Wednesday - Zelos

[fragileprophet]

[I’m very personally concerned that Ion running around the castle worried about people basically killing themselves is becoming a nightly occurance this week. But here we are. Out of breath, Ion dashes around until he finds Zelos, hopefully by now a bit more cleaned up.]

Sir Zelos! I heard you were terribly injured! Are you alright? I came as soon as I could!

Comments

[fragileprophet]

I'm sorry.

[It's hard to say exactly what the apology's for. Sorry they got hurt? Sorry he's not doing something for Sanji? Sorry that things turned out in a way that they shouldn't? Apologizing on behalf of Sanji, who probably wouldn't?]

I can heal it, if you'd like me to.

[holybind]

[ Zelos turns back to look at Ion, very slowly, brows furrowed. ]

Why are you apologizing? Actually, scratch that— don't apologize, alright? If you say sorry in my presence again I'm going to slam that door in your face.

[ Harsh, but necessary! ]

Is this your title's special power or something? You can heal?

[fragileprophet]

I--

[He catches himself just in time. Hopefully the pleading look in his eyes doesn't count. He's doing his best!]

Yes, it is. I can heal others.

[And normally, he'd leave it at that, but...]

...at the cost that I, in turn, take the injury. Sir Sanji has already forbidden me from healing him. But it really isn't any trouble for me to do.

[holybind]

[ Zelos scowls.

And then he reaches over and puts Ion in a fucking headlock (since im assuming he's sitting close to the bed) ]

You trying to piss me off? Do you want me to sneeze on you again?

[fragileprophet]

[The action startles him enough that instead of just accepting the headlock, he actually tries to pry Zelos off of him with his tiny little arms.]

No, of course not!

[Please don't sneeze on him.]

I'm being serious--why would I want to upset you?

[holybind]

[ Zelos lets Ion go, wincing as he settles back down against the bed properly. ]

Then don't offer to do something like that again, got it?

[ He crosses his arms and huffs ]

Last thing I need is to think about you every time I look in a mirror and see my shiny new eye.

[fragileprophet]

But...

[Ion frowns.]

I just don't want you to be suffering, that's all.

[holybind]

Yeah, and I'll suffer more feeling like I owe you.

[ Before Ion can respond— ]

And before you can tell me that I wouldn't owe you anything consider— shutting up. You can't control how people feel about the things you do.

[ It's harsh, but necessary. In his own way, it's Zelos acknowledge that Ion is a real person with a real effect on him okay ]

[fragileprophet]

[Ion winces at the bite in Zelos' words, and nearly apologies. But, instead, he sighs.]

Of course I know that.

[But it makes things so hard. When all he wants is to help, but the only way to prevent anyone from turning him away is to lie. Either he's a liar or he's useless. Here, it seems, he's useless.]

It must be lonely to feel as if the kindness of others comes at a catch.

[holybind]

You really did just come here to piss me off, huh?

[ his smile is rueful, he rests his head on the headboard of his bed and rolls his eyes. There’s no point in denying it, Ion has him clocked and no amount of convincing or deflecting will do much ]

It always comes at a catch, you don’t realize it now but inevitably you’ll ask for something— or you’ll expect something. People always do, it’s in our nature to be greedy and self-involved. Myself included, obviously.

[fragileprophet]

Can you really call it greed when you give as much as you receive?

[Ion almost sounds like he honestly isn’t sure, but he shakes his head.]

In either case...I really only came because I was worried about you.