Private Finished By The Power Of Hot Chocolate

Shul chuckled and raised his brow at the hacking cough, suspecting Sark was faking it. But Shul played along and gave his back few firm pats.
"Don't choke on me, or I will never be able to see the cococalypse."
Shul laughed at the bad joke he made and decided to save the rest of the hot chocolate for later. He stuffed the flask in one of his pockets, they were big enoughand the flask small enough so it fit.

Shul hesitated for a second more before he lifted his arm and gently touched the scar. Naturally it didn't feel much different from the rest of Sark's body but Shul could see how violently it had been ripped off. Sark had shrugged and sounded carefree but Shul knew things like that didn't just happen and not leave a mark. The words Sark said afterwards further proved that belief, the sadness in Sark's voice did. Shul frowned a bit and lowered his arm.
"Can you feel pain?"

"Don't leave this life, period. Or at least don't before those sweet fruits of chocolate of yours have taken my life."
Shul laughed and pondered for a moment about death, just for the heck of it. His fate was to turn into ice but when did Sark die, exactly? How could he even be killed? Shul wanted to ask but decided to do it later. Right now he didn't want to turn the conversation too dark.

When Sark yet again stiffened Shul started to make a list of the things that seemed to be tender for him. His past in general, or at least parts of it, looked to be painful for him. Shul would not ask anything too personal, so he wouldn't hurt him.
"Yeah, physical pain is useful. I figured you felt that. But I meant different kind of pain."
Shul lightly tapped the place in his own chest where the heart was.
"I meant do you feel pain here when it's not supposed to hurt. And no, I don't mean a heart attack or something."
Shul was smiling a little, since smile was his natural way of being. But he was dead serious.
"I think you get what I mean."

When Sark froze Shul stopped too, looking at Sark with confusion. Bu the confusion soon turned into calm, controlled worry when Sark sank down and Shul recognized the signs of a flashback and/or dissociation. Shul had studied many things, psychology among them. And if Sark was anything like a normal person Shul might be able to help. Shul turned serious and went to Sark, squatting down to the sand next to him. He didn't touch him, not immediately. And the tone in Sark's voice made Shul's chest hurt too.
"Sark? Sark, can you hear me? Listen to me, that moment is over. It's over."
Shul's note was gentle, understanding. He talked slowly and clearly, but with the affection he felt for his new friend. Shul wanted to help him.
Now Shul touched Sark, only slightly. He put one of his fingers on Sark's arm and lowered his own voice a bit.
"Come back to the now, Sark. Come back to me. Let go."

Shul felt huge relief when Sark became responsive. He noted that only slight touch was enough, at least in some circumstances, to bring him back. But the note happened at the back of his mind. On the front there was still the relief, the worry and then some.
Shul sighed a bit and smiled at Sark, a small, gentle smile. He set his whole hand on Sark's arm now, again lightly so Shul wouldn't shock him.
"So what if you screwed up. I've screwed up too. Don't blame yourself of what just happened. It wasn't your fault, it was mine."
Shul flopped down to the sand, sitting opposite of Sark. He buried his free hand to the sand.
"Do you want to sit here for a minute? I still got some hot chocolate."
Shul said casually, but underneath he was still controlled and ready to help if Sark had another lapse. After all, Shul was a professional.

Shul listened to Sark, felt bad for him despite that his voice sounded calm now. Shul knew everything was not alright. Sark's lapse had seemed pretty bad, and that kind of trauma often required a lifetime of healing. With Sark, several lifetimes.
Shul wanted to deny Sark's words, a trauma was never the fault of the one suffering from it. But Shul had a feeling Sark needed his hand and ears more now than words. So he listened. But Shul did shake his head a bit, and a rare serious expression was on his face.
"If you think you can talk about you can, if not then don't. It's up to you. But I will listen."

Two simple words. I've died. For some gods or many other creatures those words probably wouldn't be a big deal. But Shul could hear the weight behind those words, could feel the pain stored in them. It was serious for Sark, and the source of his trauma. Or at least Shul thought so.
Shul couldn't stop just one tear escaping his eye. He wasn't one to cry easy, no way. But somehow the intensity in Sark's words made him feel the pain too. And if it made Shul cry it meant the pain was just that big.
"I'm so sorry."
Three simple words. But they stored all the sincerity and empathy Shul had in him. Shul spoke quietly as well, and tightened his grip on Sark's arm a bit.