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It had never been hard to notice there was clearly something always weighing on Stinger. The man looked as if he was always carrying something too heavy on his shoulders since the time they had met. And yet, not once had he ever let anyone in. Not once had he told anyone what was wrong. Never had he let someone take some of that weight off of him.
Champ had never liked that. Even when he hadn't exactly been on good terms with Stinger, it still was a thought he had. Why wouldn't he just talk to someone? Why did he insist on holding this all in? There were 11 of them here. Well, 10. Champ wasn't sure Kotaro should be counted in the "could give Stinger therapy" group. But the fact still remained that there were so many lifeforms willing and ready to listen.
And now after everything, it only seemed like the weight was getting heavier. Champ couldn't stand it any more. If Stinger wasn't going to admit he needed help, then he was going to have to force him to. This had to change before something worse came of it.
That was where Champ found himself now, standing in front of Stinger. He had caught him seeming to be heading to his room for the night and had stopped in his path. Stinger was giving him a confused, but irritated look.
"Partner, you can talk to me. I can tell that you're not okay." Champ found himself saying. That wasn't exactly how he had planned to start this, but it was too late to go back now.
Stinger's expression changed, a startled look on his face for a brief moment as his walls went down. But the walls went up almost as quickly as they had fallen. "I don't know what you're talking about. I'm fine."
"I can see that you're not okay. Please just talk to me. To someone. I don't want to have to keep watching you drown in tears you need to cry."
Stinger stared him down for a while. Champ wasn't going anywhere. He was having this conversation whether Stinger liked it or not. This had gone on for far too long.
Stinger eventually let out a sigh, his shoulders slumping down in defeat. "You can come to my room..."
The two walked silently to his room. They entered and Stinger shut the door, listening to see if anyone else was around.
Champ glanced around the room. He hadn't been in here much. It was kind of what he expected from Stinger. But, the room being so empty made him upset. Why didn't Stinger put more effort into livening up the place?
"Why do you think something is wrong with me?" Stinger asked, dragging Champ from his observation.
Champ looked over at Stinger, who had taken a seat on his bed. "I can see that there's something weighing you down. I've noticed since we first met."
Stinger averted his gaze. "What do you know...?"
"I think you live with the ghosts of your past more than you want to let on." Champ stated.
Stinger was silent. He curled his hands into fists.
"You can tell me." Champ said. "You can spill your guts to me. I won't leave."
Stinger slowly lifted his gaze to meet Champ's. "I can't put my burden on you as well."
"I can take it. Besides, you're not a burden to me. This is nothing."
Stinger didn't seem to know how to react to that. His eyes widened for a moment, and then he quickly averted his gaze once more.
"I can't..." Stinger trailed off, seeming a bit choked up.
"You can. Whatever you have to say, I can take it." Champ reassured him. "Maybe no one else has ever wanted to hear you, but I do."
"Why...?"
"I'd rather hear your hell than see your funeral."
Stinger lowered his head. "I'm sorry..."
"Come on. What's weighing on you?" Champ prompted.
Stinger let out a long sigh before he said anything. "I just... nothing ever seems to go my way. Everything that's happened up until this point is just another blow to it. I can't do anything right... the world is against me."
"It's true you've not had much luck in things going how you wanted." Champ agreed. "But, the world isn't against you. You just are so caught up in the negative you don't see all the positives that have happened to you."
"The good isn't outweighing the bad here. And besides, I'm sure everyone is mad at me for what happened still. I just fuck everything up. I'm just a burden to anyone who tries to help me." Stinger said quietly. "You should just give up. My demons aren't going to go away that easily."
"I'm not giving up on you that easily. You're not a burden and you never will be. Those demons of yours just give your story more depth to it."
Stinger stared at him. It was clear he wasn't used to hearing such words used at him.
"I..." Stinger didn't finish. He shut his eyes as tears slid down his face.
Champ approached him and pulled him into a hug. Stinger accepted the gesture and hugged him back without a fight. Champ held him as he let out his emotions.
"Let me take some of that weight off your shoulder. I'll show you all the positives this life is throwing your way." Champ said.
"I'll trust your words... partner."