[He takes in a breath, his lips easily moving to form the words "I'm fine". Childe is safe. His own wounds aren't substantial. He won't have to go back to that dark place again. He'll be fine, in time. He has to be.]
[But as if calling him out for the line of thought, his chest throbs again from the strange ache. He bites back his words, looking down -- and then shakes his head.]
[The pain from the bond breaking alleviates immediately, as a fresh bond quickly forms to take its place.]
...no. I-I... I'm not okay.
[It feels strange to admit it so easily. He's not used to sharing his burdens like this, not sure what else there is to say. He's not okay. And he doesn't know how to fix it.]
no subject
[But as if calling him out for the line of thought, his chest throbs again from the strange ache. He bites back his words, looking down -- and then shakes his head.]
[The pain from the bond breaking alleviates immediately, as a fresh bond quickly forms to take its place.]
...no. I-I... I'm not okay.
[It feels strange to admit it so easily. He's not used to sharing his burdens like this, not sure what else there is to say. He's not okay. And he doesn't know how to fix it.]