Chapter Text
A knocking breaks the looping noise. Three firm equally spaced tics.
He knew he'd find out. He's going laugh in his face once he sees the state he's in. Just what he needed. Maybe it might just be better to deal with the mockery and get some help. Or the chance of it at least.
"Are you...doing alright. Heart?" It's sounds awkward, but sincere.
Maybe, he was being dramatic. Just not in the sense he thought he was being.
Heart tries to speak up, but all that comes out is a choked scratchy whine. He winces at himself. He can hear Mind quickly open the door. A pause, and then what seemed to be a quiet quick sigh of relief. He hears the sound of Mind bend down near him.
"What is it that you're crying over now?"
Heart lets out an annoyed, hurt noise and tenses up. He knew was being too optimistic, he should've know this wouldn't go well.
"I mean- That's not what I meant to say" Mind hesitates and thinks over how to frame his words better.
"What is it that's...disturbing you?"
He's always been good at talking, just not in a reassuring manner. It's only been a recent development that either of them have considered the others ideas, let alone issues and pains.
Heart takes a wavering breath.
"I...I don't know. It hurts. I don't know why, but it does. So...s-shakey. Can't-"
"Would you like me to grab something to ease it then?"
"...please"
When Heart squeaks out his answer, he hears the sounds of Mind walking away. He immediately worries that he's leaving him behind. Give him some semblance of hope only to just leave him there.
*Trust. Need to trust him*
They won't get any better if they don't.
So he waits there, shuddering. Only realizing how cold he feels. It feels like an eternity until he hears footsteps nearing by.
"Hold out your hands" Slowly, Heart complies. Holding out both hands open to take whatever Mind is giving him.
In one hand, he feels two small objects fall into his palm. In the other, he feels Mind firmly grasp his wrist and turn it, so that his palm faces to the side. The sudden strong movement makes Heart flinch back.
*Trust*
Heart speaks an apology just as Mind does.
A small smile grows on Mind as Heart lets out a quiet chuckle. Heart, without hesitating, brings his hand back toward him. He feels cold glass pressing against that hand.
"Figured it'll be easier to take them with water. Plus your voice sounds horrible."
Painkillers and water, he figures out, is what he gave him.
And as rude as that comment sounded, Heart could tell he was trying. If he truly meant any malice he wouldn't have gotten anything let alone care to knock on the door. The water especially said enough.
"Thank you...Mind"
A calm pause goes over the room as Heart takes them. After swallowing them down and taking a breath, Mind speaks back up.
"Is there...anything else you may need?"
"Its cold, can you grab me a blanket?"
Quietly, he hears Mind moves towards his bed. As he waits, Heart reaches up and takes off his blindfold. Letting the cold air touch his face. As cold as it was, it was better than the uncomfortable feeling of the tear soaked cloth. When Mind walks back over, he sets the fluffy cover down near Heart and takes the now empty cup and sets it on the bedside table.
"If it's not too much to ask..." Heart pauses. "Can you...stay here, with me? At least till I fall asleep?"
It was a long shot but he knew Mind didn't like being alone with his thoughts either.
"That'd be...alright, I suppose"
The footsteps move back over and he hears Mind sit right beside him. Heart then hands him half of the blanket.
"Do you uh, want to turn the light on? I'd be fine with it on tonight." He knew Mind hated being in the dark for too long.
"No, it's alright. The light from the hallway is providing enough. I appriciate the thought, however" Mind replies as he covers himself with the blanket.
They both go silent as they lay back against the wall. He can hear Mind fidgeting with his rings. He was about to ask what he was thinking about, but Mind spoke up first.
"I'm sorry"
"Sorry? For what?"
"I've been thinking a lot lately. I've been, ironiclly, too deep in my head as of late." Heart, although confused, stays silent letting Mind continue.
"I didn't think...the headaches were bad enough to effect you. I had the thought, but tried to ignore the idea. Yet not a minute later, I heard you fall...I apologize for making your pains worse than usual. I promise I never intended for this, nor planned for it to get this bad. I would've done something sooner had I..." He begins to trail off when he hears Heart begin to laugh.
"...What?" Hearts soft laugh dies down a bit as he begins to talk.
"Sorry it's just...funny. Here I was worrying I was doing the same thing to you." Mind then lets out his own breathy laugh.
"How are you fairing, by the way? I know the meds have not kicked in yet but you seem better"
Heart realizes that he's doing a whole lot better than before. He never even caught himself changing.
"I am. Still a bit shakey" He admits. "My heart still feels a bit too fast, but the room feels normal and I can think again now"
"Good. So can I"
"I'm glad"
They sit in the peaceful quiet.
"Does...Soul know about what happened?"
"He was napping on the couch when I went to grab the water, so I highly doubt it"
"Good, I was a little worried the pains were hurting him too"
"Don't worry, he was snoring quite loudly, so I doubt he felt anything" Heart lets out another giggle.
"I'm suprised you heard me with him snoring like that"
"I was thinking the same thing" Mind says while laughing.
"...Thank you, for all of this. If there's anything I can do-"
"Nonsense. You don't owe me anything."
"Still" Heart says as he lays against Mind's shoulder. "I appriciate the sentiment." Mind rests against Heart as well.
"...Thank you, Ciro"
"...Anytime, Juno"
As the two fall asleep, a harmonious silence fills the room. He'll have to ask Mind about the insult later, but thats for another time, Soul thinks as he walks past Heart's door to his own room, smiling.