"Neku."
The proxy shot up, his eyes wide and his mind instantly awake. There was absolutely no mistaking that croak. Still...he had to make sure. Dashing to the couch, Neku dropped to one knee and grasped the limp hand of his friend.
"Josh?"
The purple eyes were clear, more clear than they'd been for what seemed like eternity as they looked right at the orangette. "Worried?"
"Damn right I'm worried! Josh...we didn't think you'd….we thought you were...damn…"
A feeble attempt at a snicker escaped cracked lips, and Neku couldn't help but have water pool in his eyes. He thought he'd never hear that sound again, and for it to tease his ears even at this weak decibel...it felt overwhelming. The hand he gripped made an attempt to squeaze, but could barely curl around his fingers.
"It seems...I'm weaker than...I would like."
"Shut up you ass." Neku grunted "On second thought, never shut up again. Not like you did…"
Joshua snorted and coughed, his eyes dulling for a second before clearing again. He focused on his proxy and grounded his thoughts and his sanity. His mind was defiant, yet it was also extremely fragile and he knew it. Apollo was cracking him ever so slowly, but his indomitable spirit kept the method from working too quickly. But Joshua could feel it creeping in...the utter helplessness.
At least he could...up until his proxy and his producer demanded a break.
Then the feeling left abruptly, and his defiance shot up the roof. He wanted nothing less than to survive. Not just a little, but a lot. He wanted another shot. He wanted another chance. Neku's life depended on another chance! He refused to let his partner continue to suffer for him!
TWEWYTWEWYTWEWYTWEWY
"You want a redo."
The head nodded slowly, a sneer finally gracing the parched lips. The eyes had a fire in them not seen for weeks, not since the conclusion that got them here in the first place. Neku took comfort in the defiance being displayed here, but in a way, he was also doubtful.
"You know Asshole won't agree. You think he'd actually give you a chance to get free of him now that he has you exactly where he wants you?"
"He never said...we couldn't have a rematch." Joshua pointed out, his voice weak but the tone itself cocky.
"Still, Josh...Apollo isn't going to be up for that. He has you, and he won't give you up no matter what."
"Then we'll play for your freedom."
"I'm not going anywhere you prick!" Neku insisted "Your loss is my loss. I refuse to be forced to let you suffer alone!"
A headache graced the proxy's skull as the Composer raised his vibe to an intolerable level with a scowl, clearly drawing on a different plane for his strength. "I refuse to watch you suffer without being able to fully die! I see EVERYTHING! My eyes might look dead, partner, but they still see everything around me. It's hazy at the worst times, but I see. I see and I can't take it!I hear your music, Neku...I hear it fading...and I can't take it!"
The voice was soft yet almost a scream, as the skinny arm reached for Neku, grabbed him by his wrist, and yanked him down further than he already was, so his aching head was directly at the parched lips. A hiss escaped a croaking throat as he rasped almost in a teary tone,
"I can't."
Neku held his head with one hand and clasped Joshua's wrist with the other "Alright Josh...All right. I'll try to talk to the asshole. Just turn your vibe down before you make my head explode will ya?"
The headache left, and Joshua grew eerily silent again, the fire in his eyes beginning to die down as he sank into the cushions. Neku dropped his head, unable to fathom the raw emotion the Composer just displayed. Over his situation.
It had been totally selfless.
Joshua didn't often do selfless. In fact, Neku was pretty sure the word was a swear and the action vulgar in the twisted, god-complexed mind of the ash-blond. Yet there he was, shedding tears for someone else...someone he'd shot twice, manipulated...and used for his own ends. Sure, he counted the ortangette as a friend, but Neku always had a sneaking suspicion that he'd be used as a tool again without a second thought, such was Joshua's personality.
He was now doubting that caution.
