(Untitled)

[vitative]

[Aigis was relatively innocent of the dark under(and sometimes over)ground of the Mushroom Kingdom. Mostly, that was thanks to Minato. She had no clue, of course, the extent of his desire--nor his efforts--to protect her. Her powers never exploited, her body never examined, she simply thought she was "lucky

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[fools_concerto]

[Eventually, she would find him in some back alley, bruised and beaten and possibly worse. Ganon's men don't take kindly to one of their own being attacked and their shipment discovered. They take even less kindly than Mewtwo had--dammit, his brain still felt scrambled from that--to him healing said target, even if it was at the request of a friend in the same gang.

No, after having his mind scrambled in a way that managed to make his persona scream he'd been sent out on the streets to make a delivery of his own, only to be cornered by several thugs. With his mind not where it should be, he'd been an easy target for them.

Minato doesn't remember much of the incident. All he knows now is his hair hurts and his limbs are cold and oh God, who will look after Aigis if he dies here? There's so much blood around, it's all he can focus on even as he shifts to the side and accidentally tips over a trash can, causing quite the ruckus in the alley he had just been unconscious in.]

[vitative]

[Something inside of her told her she was on the right track. Minato may not have been hosting Death any longer, but Aigis was a bot of impossible doings. Her tentative steps were ones trained for battle, and she made sure to be perfectly prepared for any enemy that might approach her. Aigis had become a living girl, yes, but that did not mean she lost all of her combat experiences.

She first thought to ignore the clattering the fallen trash can made as she passed the alley. She had no time for meaningless distractions--but that was the robot in her, the part of her she struggled against every day in order to retain humanity--and this could cause a great deal of time to be lost. After glancing at her current path for a moment, she entered the alley with nearly silent footsteps, halting her mechanical breath, making sure six-shot was in perfect working condition.

A moment passed as mechanical eyes targeted the living being not twenty feet from her. And her robotic stature collapsed, leaving her rushing forward.]

Minato-san?!

[fools_concerto]

[No.

No.

Nononononononono! Not her! Anyone but her! She didn't need to see him like this! She'd seen him die once, she didn't need to see it again. Not in an alley somewhere bleeding to death. Even if the thought of dying with her close like before is an appealing thought, it's selfish. She shouldn't--this isn't--it's too--dammit! Why can't he keep his thoughts together like last time?

He focuses on her face, trying to smile even though he knows it'll hurt her. Oh well. Too late now. He can afford to be a little selfish, right?

There's a shower of blue sparks as she summons her persona and, instead of a smile, he looks confused. Did her persona evolve in the interim where they'd been separated or....

A light chuckle escapes him then. Of course.]

You.... met Elizabeth....?

[vitative]

[Seeing him like that scares her. It brings back memories of rooftops and spring mornings and laughing faces and what felt like a hundred lonely nights in an empty dorm. It brings back dreams of him, never being able to reach him.

She holds her breath, silent for a moment, trying to compose herself. The last thing he needs to hear right now is her crying.

But her tears are in her voice as she speaks, anyway.]

And Igor, yes. We all did... a-after you...

[No. She won't think about that. She won't. She won't think of the monster that took his form, that she destroyed and watched peel away... She won't think of the pain she felt when she realized his body was doing that as they fought. She won't think of the door that held her regrets, she won't think of giving up hope despite that he died for her.

But she does. And an almost whimper escapes her lips, unable to draw it back.]

>>>>

[fools_concerto]

[Almost a solid twenty-four hours sleep in the Dancing Din later, Minato is sitting up in bed. Healed or not his blood still needs to replenish itself and the fight he'd been in had exhausted him.

But that didn't matter. He had more important things to say:]

Aigis. I have something I need to tell you. About the other night.

[Better she hear it from him than find out from someone else at this point.]

[vitative]

[She hasn't left his side, and brushes hair from his face when he spoke.]

You need to rest. It can wait until you are fully healed.

[fools_concerto]

[She is not going to make him stop from telling her for the SIXTH TIME SO FAR. She is not! He grips the blankets between his hands and looks down at his lap. Her finding out the truth about him will be the hardest thing he's ever had to do.]

That's the thing: I don't know if I'll be fully healed. I can't--my persona. I can't reach them right now. At all.

[Eff you, Mewtwo.]

[vitative]

[It's another revelation that makes Aigis go cold. But... it makes sense. If Minato had his personae available, he would have never ended up as he was. She's uncertain of what to do... she can't think of any way to comfort him... she reaches out and puts a hand over his.

He will be fully healed. He will. Aigis will make sure of it.]

... Why not?