Tyki felt bad for having been so harsh to his lover, and worried that this fight might very well be their last. Only the fact that Zechs was still holding him reassured him, and that feeling was one he had dreamed about every time he'd slept. At least, once he'd recovered enough to recall who he was.

"I'm glad it wasn't so long for you," he said softly. The toll had obviously been high enough. Tyki had been worried about Zechs, but he hadn't expected it to be this bad. If he'd been gone another six weeks, who knew if Zechs would even be himself anymore?

He didn't know how to answer Zechs' question. He feared the answer would only make things worse. He hesitated, then leaned against his lover, pressing his forehead against his shoulder. "I wanted you there every minute," he said softly. "I wanted you to rescue me, to come here and be with you. But I wasn't in any danger, and I likely would have harmed you. My Duke only took the restraints off a week ago."

He was quiet for a moment, before adding heavily. "I failed. Spectacularly. But I guess you saw that... Debitt told me that the community saw a recording."