Raidou's eyes flicked down to the battle-scarred fingers gripping his elbow and then back to Genma's face. He didn't remember reaching the outpost, but he wouldn't; he'd been long past unconscious. It was only because Genma had poured his last scrap of chakra into dragging them both through a final translocation that they hadn't died at the river's edge, smashed down by Sago's gleaming hammer.

He rolled his right shoulder, reflexively testing the healed bone. It barely twinged.

He'd woken up days after that, convinced Genma was dead. And Genma...

Had thought the same.

Why am I only just realizing that? Raidou thought, crushing the urge to smack himself over the head. The answer was an easy one. Because I haven't spent the last week being completely sane.

But he was sane now, or close enough to touch the edge of it, and even though Genma's expression had turned haunted on the inside, just for a second, he'd pulled himself back. They were both getting better at that. Healing, inside and out. Or at least getting good at not showing the damage.

That's how I did it before.

You and me both. Except Raidou had never been tortured before. Only Genma had faced down that particular katana and kept walking. But...

This time was different, and I had you there.

He probably wasn't supposed to get a hot tight feeling in his chest over that, warmth and pride and fierce protectiveness weaving together in a knot around his heart, but he didn't plan to question it. Or mention it, because this conversation was veering dangerously close to an edge. Instead, he touched Genma's scarred fingertips with his own, responding to everything with a single succinct gesture that meant I'm still not going anywhere, and wrapped his hand firmly around Genma's bony wrist. Pulse against palm.

"Think we could bribe a nurse to get us that beer now?" he said. "Because I'm feeling a definite urge to drown my sorrows. Or celebrate. I'm not quite sure which." He huffed a short, bare-bones laugh. "Or maybe I should ask your advice and shut up, because you're the guy who knows what to expect."