duel 4. ( video ) If my armor breaks I'll fuse it back together

[puzzlingly]

「Atem comes up on the screen, looking more than exhausted, with big bags under his usually fiery eye(s), the Millennium Eye in his left socket, however, keeping its cold, golden appearance, imperturbable as ever. He does not look at the screen then he starts speaking, his normal eye, empty, as he looks at something else. A someone, in fact, but he will not show Kain's body on the feed, however, it would be terribly disrespectful.」

My friends, my comrades, hear me out–! 「He starts, his voice nearly broken, but starts taking strength after a few words.」 Most of you don't know me, but I already think of you as my friends, as my family! We all are, in the end, in this together! Together, until the very end, until we are victorious.

「He finally looks at the screen, a little fire showing in his eyes at last, his words firmer, passionate as he goes on.」

And I assure you, we will be, because I believe in every one of you!

I know it hurts, I know it's hard, that this is not your fight, but they've made it so! You will rest your tired bones and your tired souls when they are all gone. We will mourn those who haven't been returned to us when the time comes. Because–they will be back.

You have fought for yourselves, for those you love, for a future that has yet to come, for Hope and the hope in your heart.

And that's why I come to you today, to plead you to give me your hope, your rage and your sadness, the love for those you're fighting for — give me everything you've got and let us give one last stand! Only one more, I promise you — send the Null this message, let them know that we are not going down! Not today, not ever! Because we are in this together!

Just a little more, my friends... It will be over, soon.

「That's it, that is all he says, one last look at Kain's body before him and he brings the feed to an end.」


( private: Law )

... Tell me you're still alive...

「Unlike his previous message to the whole Network in which he seemed to gather strength as he went on, he looks absolutely crushed.

Why Law, though? Why not Delmar, why not Lup or even Bakura, why not the rest of his friends? Because Atem has witnessed two of the strongest men he's ever known, die right in front of him...」

Comments

[video]

[puzzlingly]

「what dis... Oh... Okay that voice, he knows is by heart now.」

Hope is all we have left right now, Cole.

「He's not sure if he means the so called god or... not.」

Re: [video]

[fadeling]

[Sorry, bro, he's bad at technology]

I know. But it's too small to see sometimes. Now it sighs, soft and sad. People hurt and can't be helped.

[Pause]

They're trying.

[video]

[puzzlingly]

I know... I am... I want to think I am. Are you? Are you trying? Are you okay?

Re: [video]

[fadeling]

Yes. I help them forget when it hurts too much. It's easier here but harder too. They only come when they're hurt.

[video: private]

[puzzlingly]

「... Hmm.」

... Cole I think I need your help right now.

Re: [video: private]

[fadeling]

...I can leave if you need it. [He won't like it but... it's helping someone]

Where? [That's polite, right? Along instead of just finding him?]

[video: private]

[puzzlingly]

No, I... Just I'll explain when you're here, I'm near where the guard headquarters used to be.

Re: [video: private]

[fadeling]

[That's not worrying at all]

Alright. I'll be there.

[puzzlingly]

「It's gonna be okay! Meanwhile... He just waits. It gives him time to drag Kain's body to a more secure and sheltered place around the debris of the building. Don't worry, when Cole gets there, at least he won't have to see him, he covers him with his jacket. Hopefully, Hope (duh) will hurry taking him away.」

[fadeling]

[He shows up not long after, seeming to appear out of nowhere. He doesn't like being away, but...well. He'd asked for help and that's essentially guaranteed to get Cole's attention.]

Hello.

[puzzlingly]

「Ah! Cole, buddy! Don't scare him like that!」

Hey...

[fadeling]

[Sorry. One day he might figure out not to do that.]

You wanted help.

[puzzlingly]

「It fine...... kind of.」

Yeah... Cole, how do you make people forget you?

[fadeling]

I just do. I want them to forget and they do.

[puzzlingly]

Can you make them forget something else?

[fadeling]

Yes. If it hurts.

[puzzlingly]

「Part of him was hoping he'd say no, but here they are now...」

Could you... help me forget how he died?

「He jerks his head at the body near them. It is terribly hard for him to ask, because he thought he'd never want to forget anything again — but just constantly feeling the pain and seeing in his mind the images that went through Kain's consciousness as he died, it's crippling him.

This is not right, he knows it, but how can he help others when he cannot focus on anything else?」

[fadeling]

[He pauses for a moment, silent and watching before he answers.]

...yes. But...do you really want to?

[puzzlingly]

I don't know... 「His answer is immediate. He of all people, knows how it is to forget something. To be without certain pieces of the puzzle that makes one whole.」 I guess not... But... I shouldn't... have even looked to begin with.

「It hurts. A lot. One thing was to see someone's body die, and another see that person's memories and feelings as he dies.

He looks away, suddenly acting more like the young man he is under his usual bravado, ashamed from what he is asking.」

I don't know what to do, Cole...

「He's still not used to ask, not when his partner would simply pop up in his subconscious and tell him it would be okay, that he would help, even if he never asked.」

[fadeling]

You don't have to know. [Finding what else to say, though, is difficult. There isn't much he can, really, that won't make it worse.]

Doing is hardest and it hurts, too. Not doing hurts more, but...sometimes there's nothing. And that hurts the most. But you shouldn't forget. Sometimes it has to hurt to help.

[puzzlingly]

...

「You don't have to know.

He doesn't...? Atem looks up at Cole, the idea seems unfathomable to him. He's always had to be in charge of something, of his actions, of the safety of his people, of their lives. To be told he can give himself a moment, that he can not know, it's certainly different, a bit of an eye opener. No, it is not that he had never thought about it, it is that no one had ever told him, that he is allowed to.

It doesn't quite solve his issue right now but... He nods slowly.」

Maybe you're right.

[fadeling]

It helps. Letting someone else worry. [Usually, anyway.]

It doesn't always help to forget. There's pieces of you you need.

[puzzlingly]

... Someone else. 「But who?

He takes Cole's words to heart, he knows this. He nods.」

Sorry, Cole. Sorry I asked.

[fadeling]

Why? You only asked.

[puzzlingly]

I shouldn't have. Our memories... Our past, is part of what makes us, us. I will deal with them.