A Reversal of Reticence [Milk]

@"King"

Murphy growled in pain when she set him down. "There is plenty to apologize for," he insisted, "what I said in the infirmary, what I said while training..." he leaned forward and clutched his head in his hands. "I guess technically you are right, I'm not completely useless, just mostly."

It had been a while since he'd let his mental guard down, and trying to wrangle in his paranoia and fear while injured wasn't going so well. It was so easy to just stop fighting, to resign himself to depression and cynicism for the rest of his life. Everywhere he'd lived it was like this; he'd try to make friends, something would go wrong, he'd panic and spiral into depression which in turn, drove others away. He hated his 'gift', as the academy had called it. Maybe it would be better if he just-

A small metal 'clink' interrupted his moment of self-deprication. Glancing at the ground he spotted the silver coin he'd always kept with him glinting in what little sunlight managed to break through the treetops. He reached down and plucked it up, looking at it closely. One side depicted a simple balanced scale, and the other, a pair of dice showing boxcars. While he never went anywhere without it, it had been years since he actually looked at the thing, and the memories of how he'd come by it came flooding back. He stared at it motionlessly for a time, completely lost in reverie.

@"King"

Murphy continued to stare at the coin as various moments in time flitting across his memory. Golden hair blowing in the summer breeze, a soft laugh shared between two friends, a blue silk magician's hat being spun between two gentle hands, a soft kiss in a chilly downpour... a limp body in a crimson pool. Slowly he began to fortify himself, acknowledging each moment in turn and accepting the consequences that they'd each had on his life. With acknowledgement comes understanding, with understanding comes control. He thought, and his mind began to clear.

He gave the coin another quick flick and slid it down his sleeve, then dropped his hand to his side, letting the coin fall back into his pocket in a smooth, practiced motion. The man was shaken, but he'd be alright. He smiled at Milk's comforting words and rested his hand lightly over hers. "Thanks Milk, I-" His voice stopped as his eyes were drawn to the patch of red slowly blooming across her torso, and it took a moment to process that she was bleeding. He'd never seen her so much as flinch when she was punching a rock, what the hell was that bear exactly? "Christ Milk, you're hurt!" He fumbled around for the remnants of his first aid kit and began setting it out. He could reflect on the past later, his attention was needed in the present. "How bad is it?"

@"King"

It was alarming to hear any variation in Milk's voice, doubly so when it wavered and she was bleeding. He rose to his feet, leg almost buckling under his own weight, but after steadying himself he was fairly certain he could walk. "Aye, I think I'll be alright. Let's take it slow though, you uh, sure you're not going to bleed out?" He watched as her eyes slid out of focus and moved beside her, ready to... well to attempt to catch her if she tumbled. "Take it slow there, Milk, for once I ask ya not to push yourself."

@"King"

He was surprised when she picked him up anyways, though he didn't object. "Milk you don't have to always be the one to carry others, you know." There was blood on her back, and it felt oddly shaped, like her body was reformed incorrectly... was she forcing herself along on will alone? He rested his hand on her shoulder and squeezed softly. "Put me down, you're tired, and I'm tired. We can help each other walk home."

@"King"

He peered over her shoulder at her chest, perhaps he was imagining it, but the red patch on her torso seemed to be getting bigger. If she kept exerting herself it could be very possible for her to bleed out before they even made it back, and it didn't seem like she had any sort of obvious healing factor going on which meant that she could be in very real danger. She was beginning to buckle every few moments, and if she collapsed completely, he wasn't sure he could get her all the way home.

He judged her grip, she didn't seem to be gripping him too tightly. If he timed it right maybe he could... yeah... alright. He braced his hands on her shoulders and silently apologized, then he shoved off of her, trying to slip his legs out of her grasp and onto the ground. If he landed it there would be a moment of agony, but it would be worse if she took a fall with him on her back.