Temperance started to apply herbal paste to Gluttony's wounds.

She worked in silence, lips pressed tightly together, a small frown between her eyes.

Cute, Gluttony thought.

Time passed and passed in quietude when Gluttony broke the silence by coughing.

Damn it, there's blood. And my chest feels like it's on fire. I don't like the after-effects of fusion summoning.

Temperance noticed his condition. "Are you okay?" she asked tersely but not harshly.

Gluttony wiped his hand on his pants. "Yeah."

"Don't lie to me."

He froze. "What do you mean?"

Temperance set down her basin of herbs and gently took Gluttony's hand. "I know you're coughing up blood."

Gluttony sighed. "I really can't lie to you, can I?"

"No. No, you can't."

His shoulders drooped ever so slightly. "Sorry. How's the fusion affecting you?"

Temperance led him to dry land and made him sit down. "I just threw up rainbows once. You're badly affected because of the whole... you know."

"Probably."

Silence ensued again, Gluttony gradually relaxing until he's leaning against a boulder.

"I'm so tired." he muttered.

Temperance walked over and picked up her basin of herbs, then continued to apply it to her rival.

"Then rest," she whispered.

Gluttony started. "You... weren't supposed to hear that. Sorry."

"Damn it, Gluttony, I told you to tell me if you have problems."

Hearing Temperance curse was new for Gluttony. In his shock, he responded. "I'm just overall exhausted. You must be, too."

She sighed and looked at her rival. "If you want to sleep, then sleep. If you want to eat, then eat. If you want to cry, then cry."

Gluttony stared at Temperance.

"I mean it." she added.

"No, I'm okay, the after effects of the fusion aren't really pleasant, that's all." Also my whole body hurts, but I'm okay.

"You have tears in your eyes."

"I do?"

"Yes, you do."

"Okay, maybe I'm kind of not okay."

Temperance raised an eyebrow.

"I'm not okay."

She raised the other eyebrow.

"...I'm not at all okay."

Temperance crossed her arms.

"I said it! What else do you need me to say?"

Sighing, Temperance stopped her facial expressions and her arm crossing, then tentatively hugged her rival. "I'm not asking for words."

Seconds passed, and seconds turn into minutes.

The smallest sob came out of Gluttony before he relaxed and stopped restraining himself, and actually cried.

"It's okay to be not okay. You don't have to suffer alone." Temperance whispered.

There was no response, but she knew Gluttony is listening.

She knew by the way he placed all of his body weight on her shoulder.

And she's glad Gluttony's at least accepting that he's not okay.