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[ he... expected that. and frowns deeply. ]
...Letters? Rex, I only got one letter from you. And I... I didn't realize we could send them back. Not for a long time. But that was stupid of me.
You were never out of my mind. But you're right. I never expressed it. And you've every right to be mad at me.
I want you to know, I kept that letter on me at all times. Always.
[ he taps the spot where he keeps the little waterproof bag he has pocketed right above his heart. ]
If I could do one thing over again, it would be that. But so much for regret, it doesn't do anything for you and it's really only self-serving.
...Letters? Rex, I only got one letter from you. And I... I didn't realize we could send them back. Not for a long time. But that was stupid of me.
You were never out of my mind. But you're right. I never expressed it. And you've every right to be mad at me.
I want you to know, I kept that letter on me at all times. Always.
[ he taps the spot where he keeps the little waterproof bag he has pocketed right above his heart. ]
If I could do one thing over again, it would be that. But so much for regret, it doesn't do anything for you and it's really only self-serving.
[ ...immediately makes a grab for that pocket to dig it out and see it for himself. ]
[ it's his inside breast pocket, but he lets him do that. the bag is torn, the contents inside are, in fact, a photo of sholmes, his first letter from nine and the letter from rex, as well as his coin. any other items had been removed over the course of the week, not as important to him to keep close.
but it's there. one of his few treasured items. ]
but it's there. one of his few treasured items. ]
[ Rex shuffles through the contents, letting the photo and the other letter fall away. He stares at his own words, gripping the letter so tightly it feels like his knuckles might burst out of his skin.
is this even real? can he trust it to be real? How can he be sure that Kotetsu's actually been carrying this around? He could've just slipped it into his pocket before coming to see Rex right now. ...But that doesn't explain the old, old bloodstains on it.
he tries to keep his voice even, but it's hard. He pushes aside the lump in his throat to talk. ]
...I woke up dead and all I remembered was the past week when I was murdered. And nobody caught my killer because everyone was too busy caring about her to care about me. No one ever mentions me again, like I never existed in the first place. And everyone is lying, about everything, all the time.
And then some guy turns up telling me he cares about me and wants to help me. Like I'm supposed to just believe that. Like trusting people at their word isn't exactly what got me killed.
[ he looks up from the letter, crinkling in his desperate grasp. ]
What am I supposed to do with this? All these weeks later. The tiniest thing nobody could have ever noticed. [ he manages a single laugh, wet and derisive ] Like I'm that desperate. [ what he really means: am i that desperate? ]
is this even real? can he trust it to be real? How can he be sure that Kotetsu's actually been carrying this around? He could've just slipped it into his pocket before coming to see Rex right now. ...But that doesn't explain the old, old bloodstains on it.
he tries to keep his voice even, but it's hard. He pushes aside the lump in his throat to talk. ]
...I woke up dead and all I remembered was the past week when I was murdered. And nobody caught my killer because everyone was too busy caring about her to care about me. No one ever mentions me again, like I never existed in the first place. And everyone is lying, about everything, all the time.
And then some guy turns up telling me he cares about me and wants to help me. Like I'm supposed to just believe that. Like trusting people at their word isn't exactly what got me killed.
[ he looks up from the letter, crinkling in his desperate grasp. ]
What am I supposed to do with this? All these weeks later. The tiniest thing nobody could have ever noticed. [ he manages a single laugh, wet and derisive ] Like I'm that desperate. [ what he really means: am i that desperate? ]
I tried to send you a letter, Rex. I assumed when you didn't respond that it meant "actions speak louder than words" ... that sending something like that wouldn't mean anything.
So I kept pushing on with you in mind. Determined to bring you back, wanting to help you get back those memories. I thought... all I could do was show you by that.
[ he frowns, he doesn't know what to do. ]
So, I kept your letter close to me at all times and did what I could.
I can't imagine how you've felt all this time. Waking up like that with only that one memory. Having no one to trust or rely on. Rex...
So I kept pushing on with you in mind. Determined to bring you back, wanting to help you get back those memories. I thought... all I could do was show you by that.
[ he frowns, he doesn't know what to do. ]
So, I kept your letter close to me at all times and did what I could.
I can't imagine how you've felt all this time. Waking up like that with only that one memory. Having no one to trust or rely on. Rex...
There was nothing to reply to. You said you were trying. So I kept waiting to see proof.
[ and then...he didn't. he saw kotetsu caring about, talking about, everyone else in sight, but never him. he saw kotetsu curling up around sholmes constantly, like a boy he supposedly cared about hadn't been murdered in an unsolved case.
and what he sees now...is a single letter from him, carried around in kotetsu's pocket for weeks. ]
[ and then...he didn't. he saw kotetsu caring about, talking about, everyone else in sight, but never him. he saw kotetsu curling up around sholmes constantly, like a boy he supposedly cared about hadn't been murdered in an unsolved case.
and what he sees now...is a single letter from him, carried around in kotetsu's pocket for weeks. ]
There's nothing I can do to prove it to you, is there? Everything you saw... You're right. It didn't seem like I cared.
[ but he did. he's always cared. rex has always been a piece of what's kept him going. and yet... now that they're here, he has nothing to show for it. all he did was continue to hurt the kid, let him down, let him feel neglected and alone.
there is absolutely nothing he can do to make up for his missteps other than try to fix what he can and get rex back to where and what he should. this weight is heavy. ]
[ but he did. he's always cared. rex has always been a piece of what's kept him going. and yet... now that they're here, he has nothing to show for it. all he did was continue to hurt the kid, let him down, let him feel neglected and alone.
there is absolutely nothing he can do to make up for his missteps other than try to fix what he can and get rex back to where and what he should. this weight is heavy. ]
[ He wants to say no. He ought to. But staring at the letter in his hands... ]
...I don't know.
[ Because the truth is, all Rex wants, more desperately than anything, is to be cared about. He's been watching people forge bonds and display how much they love one another, through good and bad, for weeks on end. Weeks where all he had was a collection of people that hardly knew him at all, and no memories of anyone ever caring for him in the least. And he could have tried, but--but then--he doesn't want to turn around and one day discover he was everyone's second. or third. or last. fine enough, but to be discarded at a moment's notice when it's convenient.
Rex slides down to sit on the dusty ground. He wants this so, so badly. but he can't let himself get burned again. ]
...I don't know.
[ Because the truth is, all Rex wants, more desperately than anything, is to be cared about. He's been watching people forge bonds and display how much they love one another, through good and bad, for weeks on end. Weeks where all he had was a collection of people that hardly knew him at all, and no memories of anyone ever caring for him in the least. And he could have tried, but--but then--he doesn't want to turn around and one day discover he was everyone's second. or third. or last. fine enough, but to be discarded at a moment's notice when it's convenient.
Rex slides down to sit on the dusty ground. He wants this so, so badly. but he can't let himself get burned again. ]
[ And now... Kotetsu knows he has no right to reach out to him. He looks at Rex with such a sad expression. He can't fix this. He can't do anything to right this wrong that he's done against this boy. ]
Then give me time. I'll try what I can to show you I care. Not about everyone as a collective, but you, personally, Rex. Maybe I can't fix this... Maybe you won't believe me. But I want to try anyway.
Then give me time. I'll try what I can to show you I care. Not about everyone as a collective, but you, personally, Rex. Maybe I can't fix this... Maybe you won't believe me. But I want to try anyway.
[ he shouldn't. he shouldn't. he already knows where kotetsu's priorities lie, why should he hurt himself again like this, he shouldn't-- ]
...fine. One last chance.
[ His knees are brought up to his chest, head resting on them. He lets the letter drift out of his grip. ]
...fine. One last chance.
[ His knees are brought up to his chest, head resting on them. He lets the letter drift out of his grip. ]
[ he goes to grab the letter and puts it back where it belongs. ]
Thank you. Let me figure out how to do that for you.
Thank you. Let me figure out how to do that for you.
[ he just nods once, face buried in his curled up posture. ]
[ after everything that happened, he's still collecting himself. but he looks in the direction of rex, a little unsure of himself, but he approaches quietly. ]
Nice work out there today.
[ he saw how hard he was working on the bomb and all. ]
Nice work out there today.
[ he saw how hard he was working on the bomb and all. ]
[ He looks up from his position seated on the ground, glancing at Kotetsu with mild surprise. After a moment, though, he shrugs. ]
I didn't really do much. Just slotting things together and following instructions.
I didn't really do much. Just slotting things together and following instructions.
[ Actions speak louder than words, right? So he's here. Once again. ]
You did a lot. I probably would have broke the thing if I had my hands on it.
You did a lot. I probably would have broke the thing if I had my hands on it.
[ they do, and rex is Taking Note ]
...you know what, I can see it. You would've.
...you know what, I can see it. You would've.
[ There's a helpless shrug at that, but he laughs a little bit. ]
So take the compliment. I mean it. I'm glad we had you there.
So take the compliment. I mean it. I'm glad we had you there.
[ he hums. ]
Still. All the power I had to reprogram it, and in the end we still had to just feed them to the bomb anyway.
Still. All the power I had to reprogram it, and in the end we still had to just feed them to the bomb anyway.
That isn't your fault, though. All of us tried to find alternate answers... but there weren't any. It's a little disheartening, but they came back.
Yeah, I guess.
[ he turns his head to look at Kotetsu again. ]
...so why are you here, anyway, and not with them?
[ he turns his head to look at Kotetsu again. ]
...so why are you here, anyway, and not with them?
Because I wanted to see you. And I wanted to check how you were doing, at the last leg of the race.
...You heard what I said today, right?
...You heard what I said today, right?
[ looks straight ahead into the distance again because suddenly his throat is thick. ]
Yeah.
Yeah.
I felt it was important for you to hear. That is was an important story I had to share.
The only story that felt right.
The only story that felt right.
...the harpies accepted it.
[ the harpies that supposedly know a true story from a false one and WILL call you out on it. ]
[ the harpies that supposedly know a true story from a false one and WILL call you out on it. ]
They did.
[ he nods in confirmation. ]
I know they're just words, but... I hoped in that context they would mean more than just that.
[ he nods in confirmation. ]
I know they're just words, but... I hoped in that context they would mean more than just that.
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