[He knows instinctively what Saitou is talking about. It affected so many of the students. In a way, he feels like it left a bigger mark on them than it did on him.]
[Which isn't to say that he was unaffected. It's still too easy to remember the humiliation and frustration of being helpless, to recall the crack of his own bones, the numbness that told him his body was in too much pain to really feel any of it, the dull sense of surprise cutting through the haze of the medication when he realized he was alive and not in custody, in an infirmary bed with Souji asleep beside him.]
[But even when all of those memories had been fresh and clear, when the time came to fight, he'd fought again. He had no doubt that if Jean Grey hadn't died, he would have, and it would have been worth it just for the chance that it might help the students.]
[He passes Saitou a mug, and sits down on the edge of the windowsill with his own.]
no subject
[Which isn't to say that he was unaffected. It's still too easy to remember the humiliation and frustration of being helpless, to recall the crack of his own bones, the numbness that told him his body was in too much pain to really feel any of it, the dull sense of surprise cutting through the haze of the medication when he realized he was alive and not in custody, in an infirmary bed with Souji asleep beside him.]
[But even when all of those memories had been fresh and clear, when the time came to fight, he'd fought again. He had no doubt that if Jean Grey hadn't died, he would have, and it would have been worth it just for the chance that it might help the students.]
[He passes Saitou a mug, and sits down on the edge of the windowsill with his own.]
When they don't, we try again.