"........essentially." Emerald mumbled.

He then sighed, and gave her a small and truncated explanation as to what had happened.

"...so... so yeah..." he muttered.

"If it wasn't for me and my sister, this wouldn't have happened." he said.

"It's effectively MY fault this happened to you."

Emerald winced a bit at the last part, and it was clear he was feeling immensely guilty about it... and that he'd missed the light smirk from her.

"I..." he stammered.

"No... no, I didn't." he said.

"I swear, I did not intend for this. I..." he said further, before pausing and biting his lip.

"I'm sorry..." he whispered.

"...even though I know that means nothing, I'm sorry..."

"....." Emerald was silent for a moment, before looking at her.

"R-really?" he asked.

Rylie just nodded in response, and Emerald looked ready to tear up.

"....th-thank you." he said.

"Thank you. I... just... thank you." he said further.

He then sighed lightly, before looking at her and smiling softly.

"Ah, right." Emerald said.

"Yes, I need to apologize to him." he told her.

"Er... well... yes." he then mumbled.

"Yes, I should apologize to Agent Sharp." he reiterated, before sighing quietly.

"How are you feeling? Like, specifically?" he then asked.

"Still feeling the effects of what happened? Or just... not feeling the best, or what?"

Emerald just sighed in relief.

"That's good." he said.

"You're recovering. That's all that matters." he said further.

"Odds are you'll be laid up for a bit, though." he then muttered.

"Won't be at 100% for a while."

"We're fine." Emerald replied.

"We're one of the few that got off relatively easy here." he told her.

"And... well... we're making sure every last trace of the little things are gone." he went on.

"As in, permanently." he stressed.

"The last thing Vi and I want is for this to happen again." he told her.

"...we already lost one home to it... it doesn't need to happen again."

Emerald nodded slowly in response.

"Of course." he replied with a smile.

"Of course I'll let you." he told her.

"Just... not right now." he finished with a small chuckle.

Some time later, Azazel's eyes twitched slightly, and he stirred.

"Nnngh... urgh..." he groaned, as his eyes fully opened.

"...what the...?" he asked quietly, as he tried to get up, but found himself a little wobbly and unsteady.

"Ow... ok, bad idea." he murmured, laying back down.

"....Aedan..." Azazel said quietly when he saw her.

He smiled slightly, and sighed lightly.

"Boy, am I glad to see you again." he said.

"I was scared that I might not ever see you again." he then admitted.

"....how'd you fare during all this?" he asked her.

"....like Hell." Azazel responded, before pausing.

"...er... no pun intended." he then said.

"But I feel really weak and feeble and sick." he told her.

"....don't feel like I'm gonna die, though." he admitted.

"So that's a plus."

Azazel nodded slowly.

"Yeah." he replied.

"Sure." he said.

"....Aedan?" he then addressed her.

"After I'm out of here, let's go to dinner or something." he suggested.

"Just... someplace really nice." he reasoned.

"I mean luxury."