To be honest, Ash didn't care if it hurt. He'd endured so much more than simple pain like this. His last moments were nothing but Eiji, the only trace of true peace in his life. Ash would tolerate anything if it meant being here and staying far away from the chaos that followed wherever he went. For as much as he teased, he truly should have listened to Eiji. He was one of the only people in his life who wholly wanted what was best for him and expected nothing back. Only Eiji and Shorter would leave him with unshakable regret if he were to dis again today.
"No, you're fine, Eiji." Ash didn't allow the other boy to move too far from him, slipping his arm around to keep Eiji close. If he did rip open his stitches agin, it would be worth it this time.
"Eiji..." For everything rough and tumble that he was on the outside, Ash was soft and vulnerable on the inside. Eiji brought out the best in him, there was no denying that. Ash reached out to slip his fingers through the dark strands of Eiji's hair. "It's alright now." Even he found that it didn't grant much solace, but they had to start somewhere. What happened was a culmination of the years catching up with Ash, it was almost inevitable. He never wanted that for Eiji. It was why he pushed with such desperation, not that it did him any good. The only other thing to do was accept that Eiji was an immovable object in his life that met his unstoppable force and brought Ash to a standstill.
When Eiji shifted, Ash did too, just to rest his arms around him for the dual purpose of comfort and keeping him close. Everything Ash wanted was right here. If they were truly free from Golzine, from New York, from his past, from everything... then maybe he could take a chance to breathe in a way he hadn't in years and never thought he would be able. Second chances rarely came along and never like this. It would be the most foolish thing he'd done if he were to waste it.
"Loved because you made them," and perhaps hated out loud, because for being so far beyond his years, Ash could be an insufferable brat. Ash laughed too, the movement of it making him hurt in the best of ways. "It's you and me, Eiji, forever." Forever once didn't stretch very far for Ash. It was an uncertainty that didn't allow him to see more than a few steps ahead of him when he never knew what was coming. If his days rose and fell with Eiji, there was no more guess work.