Ryker noticed that Eke had fallen asleep... but he was still hanging onto him.

He then sighed, and gently moved himself (and Eke as well), into a laying down position. He wanted Eke to be comfortable, but he wasn't about to pull away.

Not now.

Eke was very vulnerable right now, so he needed to be there for him.

So as he slept, he just continued to gently rub is back in reassurance, hoping it might help him on some subconscious level.

By the time Eke had woken up, Ryker was already awake.

But he hadn't moved. He had stayed where he was. He hadn't wanted to get up, and wanted to have been there for Eke when he DID wake up.

He noticed that Eke just grabbed the pillow, and sighed.

"....hey." he said quietly.

He didn't know what else TO say here. So he said nothing more.

He didn't want to unnecessarily agitate the wound that Eke had sustained right now.

"....I'm here for ya." Ryker finally said.

"I know you had it rough last night." he said further.

"...and I don't know how to help." he admitted.

"But I'm here." he said further.

"I'm not going anywhere." he continued.

"I'll always be here for you."

"You're going to have to at some point." Ryker told him.

"But that doesn't have to be anytime soon." he said.

"That being said, you should still eat." he told him.

"I can do up some breakfast... well... brunch, I suppose." he said further.

"Because you still need to eat, after all."

Ryker was silent, and just pinched the bridge of his nose.

"....fine." he replied.

"If that's what you want." he said.

He then started to pack up what little they'd brought, making sure he forgot nothing.

'...yep, he's hurt... real bad...' he thought to himself.

Ryker just sighed and followed Eke.

He said nothing, but followed Eke.

He followed him out of the gates, and sighed again.

"All right..." he said.

"Where do you want to go now?" he asked.

".........." Ryker looked around, and then looked at Eke.

"We're back in the city." he said.

"Want to find a place to stay for a bit?" he asked.

"Well... assuming you want to stay here in this city for a bit." he continued.

"We've been walking for a while."

Ryker shook his head, and walked in front of Eke.

"No." he said.

"You're NOT fine." he told him.

"I get that you're pissed. I get that you're saddened. But please... don't turn this into self-harm." he went on.

"If you're not careful you're going to collapse and pass out." he then warned Eke.

Ryker was... stunned.

Outright stunned.

'Geez.' his other side said mentally. 'Didn't think the kid had THAT in him.' he admitted.

".....hm." Ryker muttered.

"Eke..." he said quietly.

Was this something that had changed Eke forever? Was he now doomed to be cynical and hate-filled for however little of his life ha had left.

"....." he was silent again, before slowly following. He wanted to make sure nothing more happened to him, but he wanted to give Eke his space.

Ryker continued to keep his distance, staying just out of sight, but he kept an eye on Eke.

'You have some sort of miracle plan to help him?' he was mentally asked.

"....no." Ryker responded.

'I have no experience here. I don't know what I can or should do." Ryker admitted.

"All I can do is let Eke work through this, and be there when he needs me to be."