𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗸𝗶𝗱𝘀

---〘⇯〙---

mental breakdowns are fascinating.

the human body and mind are designed for stamina, designed to go as long as they can until safety is reached. only then does one unravel, tears brimming and lungs wracking with sobs. a breakdown is a sign of stress, but its also a sign of healing. its a sign that one feels safe enough to come undone.

but people don't always unravel at the right time.

pax wakes up again, before the sun had even peeked over the horizon, and they see another figure standing by the bench. this one was taller though.

they pulled on the cloak (it reached their knees now) and pulled up the hood, hurrying out the door. ranboo stood, braced against the sea spray. he shook slightly.

"ranboo?" he turned to look. pax could see the raised lines the tears left behind on his skin. he sniffled. "hey, hey," pax said softly stepping closer. they reached up and tried to brush away the tears with their sleeve. "please don't cry." pax brushed away a tear. "you can't afford to, not now."

he took a shuddering breath. "what's wrong?" pax's voice was soft. ranboo choked on his own breath.

"did someone hurt you?" he shook his head. pax tilted their head before speaking. "we should move away from the water." the sea spray speckled is skin, leaving red marks like freckles or stars scattered across his face. the pair moved to stand besides one of the buildings.

pax wiped his face with the sleeve of their shirt and while they pulled away, ranboo grabbed their hand. he opened pax's hand, palm up, and furrowed his brows as he studied it. "your hand looks different." pax said nothing. he met what he thought could be their stare. "you're taller." ranboo gave a pained smile. "puffy's right, huh? we're still just kids; we don't know what we're doing." his voice wavered. he sighed, letting go of their hand. "techno said that the syndicate might be getting a new member," he said, his voice hushed. "you wouldn't happen to know who that member might be?"

"what is it that techno says sometimes? 'to defeat your enemy, you must become them'? techno destroyed l'manburg; there's no guarantee that snowchester isn't next on his list." he looked away from pax, refusing to meet their gaze. "the syndicate will fall. from the inside."