[The sight of him---the cuts, the bleeding, the marked slowing of his movements, the gesture he makes toward her---is enough to startle her out of her exhausted daze and into a swift, heavy surge of panic and horror.

The copy of Romeo & Juliet, tucked safely and miraculously still in her bag, suddenly feels heavy, straining against her shoulder as she quickly half-stumbles, half-strides over to him. She looks like shit, honestly; covered in black blood, some of her own blood and that which isn't her own, and cuts from the scourges, from keeping a wounded Sasha safe.

Haven't you had enough of doing these things to yourself?]

What...what are you doing?

[The words stumble out, half-tired, half-sharp. She doesn't mean to sound harsh, but he's bleeding and yet he's still on his feet when he shouldn't be----

Akame swallows, and for a moment, she feels her eyes go damp, remembering Peter and the spear that got run through him. Squinting them shut just as briefly, she takes a deep breath, and she tries to look and sound firm when she resumes speaking, sticking close to Nic's side.]

Nic, you need to lay down. To rest. It's over.

[There's no need for him to stand around like this. He's hurt, badly, and he needs to do something about it before the celebre---which she's sure he took at one point during this disaster---wears off.

Instead, she looks vaguely pleading. There's a cold feeling that's entered her gut, the same as when he protected her from the jekhe.

The same as when Peter was killed.

Akame finds herself clutching not her sword this time, but the book. Her free hand goes for his shoulder.]

I...still have to return the book to you, anyhow; I...I finished it. So...come. Let's go back.

[She tries to force a slight smile, but finds it's only a grimace, and the cold feeling grows.]