[Armin had been waiting, curled up in his chair, his arms folded over his knees as he watched Jean sleep. He looked peaceful. He looked like anyone else would look like asleep.
The only problem was that Jean had already been asleep for days. With no sign of waking up. His breathing and heartbeat were steady, he just didn't wake up.
In some ways, it was good that something similar had just happened to Shiro. It helped him know what to prepare for --Shiro had woken up after about a week with new memories, would Jean too?-- and helped settle his nerves somewhat, though he couldn't dispell them entirely.
He jerked when his gear went off, fumbling for it. Ah. Bertolt.]
Bertolt. It's-- [Were they okay? Things weren't as normal, but they had also been worse. He wanted to let Bertolt know what was happening but not overly worry him.] It's a little complicated.
[His first thought goes to the islands - there weren't any storms recently, were there? Bertolt can't recall hearing about any, but he also hasn't been listening to the news or weather for the past few days since he left Goldenrod with Sasha to meet up with Mari over in Lavender Town.
But then he would've heard something sooner, right?]
[Armin's voice is muffled for a moment as he runs a hand over his face and through his bangs, trying to think of the best way to tell this to Bertolt.]
First, he's still here, so please don't worry about that, but he's asleep. He's been asleep for three days now.
I don't think it is an illness. Not exactly, at least. I've been checking on him, but he doesn't have a fever and his breathing and heartbeat are normal.
[There is a note of uncertainty in his voice though. Cause really, what is this.]
I think... something like this happened Shiro before too. He fell asleep for a week without any warning signs and when he woke up he had new memories.
Have you brought him to a doctor to make sure? I-I mean, my dad passed out once like that and the doctors had to stay at our house for around two days just in case, and then he ended up getting sick. I-It could be the start of something.
[He still hopes his dad is doing okay back home, but he'll have no real way of knowing for... Gods only know how long.]
...How long has he been out? You said three days, right?
We've had one of the nurses check him out. She said... they aren't really certain why this happens. And this sort of thing only happens to us who have come from different worlds. But that it is not an illness or anything they can help with. It just needs time.
And yes, three days. Krieg dropped him off already asleep. Apparently, he found him on the road.
[Bertolt bites his lip even though Armin can't see it, and he just... stares at his 'gear for a minute. Three days. Three godsdamned days, and Bertolt wasn't there.]
I should've stayed with him longer while I was in Goldenrod. I should've gone with him-- [Okay, breathe. Just breathe, take a deep breath, and try to relax. It's not going to do any good to dwell on could've-would've-should've situations right now, right?] ...I can send Marcel to him. A-And he can keep watch when no one else is around.
[It's not something he offers lightly - Marcel has been by his side since day one, and in the rare cases where Marcel couldn't go, Bertolt often didn't go as well.]
I don't think you should blame yourself like that. Until this happened to Shiro, I didn't even know it was a possibility. I'm not even sure Jean knew this was something that could happen. And we've all travelled before without any incident.
And, well, I know I'm not actually Jean, but I think that if he would hear you blame yourself for this, he'd probably tell you you're being an idiot. You know how he feels about people overthinking things.
And I think we'll be fine without Marcel. I'm very grateful for the offer, of course, but we are not really in any trouble here. There isn't anything Marcel could do. And aren't you travelling? You probably need him more than we do here.
[He can't help it though. He's a worrier and a warrior. Mostly a worrier, but still.
The rejection stings though, but... Wouldn't Jean want him to stand up for himself? Or even Reiner? He has to be more assertive--]
...You know it's not a matter of whether or not there's trouble, Armin. I can't sit by and do nothing while I'm so far away. Jean slept with Marcel and I for so long that it's... He doesn't have to do anything except be there. I can't, so he has to do it in my place.
I'm just not sure how Blitz is going to react. He's already really on edge and grouchy. You know how protective he can get of Jean and without Jean there to calm him down, he's really... even worse than normal.
Bringing in even more pokemon... he might not react well to that.
Voice;
Armin? Is everything okay?
Voice;
The only problem was that Jean had already been asleep for days. With no sign of waking up. His breathing and heartbeat were steady, he just didn't wake up.
In some ways, it was good that something similar had just happened to Shiro. It helped him know what to prepare for --Shiro had woken up after about a week with new memories, would Jean too?-- and helped settle his nerves somewhat, though he couldn't dispell them entirely.
He jerked when his gear went off, fumbling for it. Ah. Bertolt.]
Bertolt. It's-- [Were they okay? Things weren't as normal, but they had also been worse. He wanted to let Bertolt know what was happening but not overly worry him.] It's a little complicated.
Voice;
[His first thought goes to the islands - there weren't any storms recently, were there? Bertolt can't recall hearing about any, but he also hasn't been listening to the news or weather for the past few days since he left Goldenrod with Sasha to meet up with Mari over in Lavender Town.
But then he would've heard something sooner, right?]
What happened?
Voice;
[Armin's voice is muffled for a moment as he runs a hand over his face and through his bangs, trying to think of the best way to tell this to Bertolt.]
First, he's still here, so please don't worry about that, but he's asleep. He's been asleep for three days now.
Voice;
W-What?
[That's not-- No, that can't be right. It can't be--]
What happened?! H-How? He's not sick, is he?
Voice;
[There is a note of uncertainty in his voice though. Cause really, what is this.]
I think... something like this happened Shiro before too. He fell asleep for a week without any warning signs and when he woke up he had new memories.
Voice;
[He still hopes his dad is doing okay back home, but he'll have no real way of knowing for... Gods only know how long.]
...How long has he been out? You said three days, right?
Voice;
And yes, three days. Krieg dropped him off already asleep. Apparently, he found him on the road.
Voice;
[Bertolt bites his lip even though Armin can't see it, and he just... stares at his 'gear for a minute. Three days. Three godsdamned days, and Bertolt wasn't there.]
He wasn't hurt out there at all, was he?
Voice;
Voice;
[It's not something he offers lightly - Marcel has been by his side since day one, and in the rare cases where Marcel couldn't go, Bertolt often didn't go as well.]
Voice;
And, well, I know I'm not actually Jean, but I think that if he would hear you blame yourself for this, he'd probably tell you you're being an idiot. You know how he feels about people overthinking things.
And I think we'll be fine without Marcel. I'm very grateful for the offer, of course, but we are not really in any trouble here. There isn't anything Marcel could do. And aren't you travelling? You probably need him more than we do here.
Voice;
[He can't help it though. He's a worrier and a warrior. Mostly a worrier, but still.
The rejection stings though, but... Wouldn't Jean want him to stand up for himself? Or even Reiner? He has to be more assertive--]
...You know it's not a matter of whether or not there's trouble, Armin. I can't sit by and do nothing while I'm so far away. Jean slept with Marcel and I for so long that it's... He doesn't have to do anything except be there. I can't, so he has to do it in my place.
Voice;
Bringing in even more pokemon... he might not react well to that.