He's falling. He's trying. He's absent.
Shinn. Shinn. Shinn. Shinn.
"Shinn."
Shinn. Shinn.
"No…"
Shinn. Shinn. "Shinn."
"No…"
"Shinn… open your eyes."
"No…"
"Look at me. Focus."
"No…"
"Shinn, look at me."
Another "no" came out in a wail.
"Focus, Shinn. Look at me."
Skin crawled on him like thousands of insects. "DON'T TOUCH ME, NO!"
The touch left.
Broken sobs escaped him as imaginary dirt once more engulfed him. "No… no…"
"Shinn, it's me, Athrun."
"Luna… Rey…"
"They're gone, Shinn," Athrun replied, "You're safe."
He abruptly backed away.
He shrieked and backed away on all fours and threw himself backwards until his back hit the wall. His head shook as wails and unintelligible blubbers made their way out of his mouth. His eyes burned as they leaked themselves to irritable dryness.
Athrun sat on his knees next to him.
They stayed in their position for a long time, before diluted crimson eyes focused and his chest heaved another broken stream of grief.
"Why didn't you find me?"
Athrun looked into his eyes.
"WHY DIDN'T YOU FIND ME?"
"They didn't make it easy."
"YOU'RE ATHRUN ZALA, WHY DIDN'T YOU FIND ME?"
"I did."
"You're LATE!"
"I'm sorry, it was impossible for me do earlier."
"YOU'RE SORRY? REY AND LUNA ARE DEAD!"
"I know. I'm sorry."
"SORRY WON'T BRING THEM BACK!"
"I know. I'm sorry! I wasn't there, I'm sorry! Please let me take you to be treated. You need medical attention."
"JUST KILL ME!"
"I can't do that."
"WHY THE HELL NOT?"
"Because I want you around for a long time."
"Sadistic BASTARD."
"I'm sorry."
"WHY DIDN'T YOU COME EARLIER?"
"I'm sorry. I spent the past 39 hours looking for you."
"AND WHY DIDN'T YOU FIND ME?" he screamed before falling into broken sobs once again.
"Shinn, please don't cry this hard, you'll get sick…"
"You don't care!"
"I do…" Athrun said, his heart dropping in a deep sea of guilt.
"LIAR!"
"I swear, Shinn. I swear I do…"
"NO!"
"I'm sorry… I tried… I'm sorry."
Shinn's eyes got lost once more and his hands grabbed his head.
Athrun cringed as tears left his own scrunched eyes when a tortured wail broke out from Shinn. "I'm sorry…" I'm sorry… I'm sorry!