�Damn,� I mutter. Black spots are dancing around the outskirts of my vision, but I shake my head and rub my eyes to get them to disperse. �Sick bast--�
My eyes widen slightly and my voice catches in my throat as hot tears streak down my face. I press my palms roughly to my eyes, shaking violently with each stifled sob. A hand comes to rest on my shoulder lightly, but I shrug it away. �I�m f-fine, just go t-take your sh-shower--�
Again my voice catches, and I curl up more into myself, the tears dripping one after the other to my lap.
�Dells...�
�Shower--now--�
�Thanks,� says Dakumi softly, and I feel the couch shift as his weight is lifted from it.
I rock back and forth slowly where I�m sitting, gasping between sobs as I hug myself tightly. It takes me a few minutes to get used to what my mind perceives as unfounded depression, and even then I have to check my breathing so I don�t hyperventilate.
�Damn Ishiro,� I hiss, my face pressing into the rough material of the couch cushions. Callie mews comfortingly from somewhere beside me and nuzzles my leg. �Damn fucking self-absorbed manipulative controlling jerk-off sonuvabitch bastard pri--�
For a third time my voice hinges somewhere in my throat, but unlike before, it is not due to the overwhelming misery gleaned from Dakumi�s memories. I sit up slowly, letting my hands fall to my lap as I look round confusedly, at a loss as to why the emotion suddenly disappeared--and then I hear a strangled yell and a loud crash from the bathroom.
�Shit!� I hurtle myself over the couch and sprint towards the bathroom, throwing the door open. A blast of warm steam rushes out to greet me, cooling the instant it touches my skin. �Dakumi? Dakumi!�
He�s huddled on all fours under the jet of water spewing from the showerhead, his hands tangling tightly in his hair as he trembles fiercely. Every few seconds he lets out a hoarse sob and arches his back up slightly, as though he�s shoving up at some invisible weight.
�Dakumi...� I reach out to help pull him from the shower, but he jerks away before I even touch him.
�Don�t touch me!� he yells through another sob, his voice cracking. �Don�t touch...�
�We have to get you out of the shower,� I say soothingly, and I reach out again--though this time I recoil as boiling water scorches my hand. �Damn, Dakumi, what�re you trying to do, give yourself third degree burns?�
I spin the faucet wheel until the flow of scorching water stops and then wrap my arms around his torso, ignoring his struggles and shouts as I pull him from the tub.
�Stop it! Stop!� he screams, thrashing desperately to be free from my grip. �Don�t fucking touch me!�
He shoves against me as I manage to get him to stand, and I lose my balance, toppling both of us over and smacking my head sharply against the wall. Bright dots dance through the bathroom, but I shake my head and tighten my grasp around Dakumi, clenching my eyes shut. �Dakumi--Dakumi! Calm down, it�s me! It�s Dells!�
�No--no--stop it!� He writhes pathetically on top of me, lashing out his legs and digging his nails into my forearms. I manage to sit up more and pull him firmly to my chest, rocking from side to side.
�Dakumi, it�s okay. It�s just me, it�s just Dells. It�s Dells, Dakumi...�
He whimpers and shudders heavily, still trying to jerk away from me. �Dells...�
�Yeah, it�s Dells.� I loosen my grip around his shoulders and turn him around a bit so he can see me, leaning over slightly to be on eye-level with him. �See? It�s just Dells.�
His eyes are wide and panicked as he stares at me, pupils diluted and wavering behind a waterfall of tears. I brush damp strands of hair from his face, running my fingers softly through his hair; he lets out a squeaking cry of recognition and throws his arms around my neck, burying his face in my chest. �Dells--God...�
�It�s okay,� I whisper, letting my chin rest gently on his head. I rock us left and right slowly again, stroking his side comfortingly. My eyes narrow as I catch sight of the bruises littered around his hips, the red scratch marks all up and down his back. �I�m here. It�s all okay, I promise.�
