Larksong Grotto cut the red wire -- or was that the green wire?

set on 11/13

Mature Content Warning

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The participants have indicated the following reason(s) for this warning: suicidal ideation

He doesn't know why he thinks visiting the grotto is a good idea — it's not. There's a pressing ache in his chest pulling him toward home, toward Korei, reminding him he needs to make amends, but he's ignoring it. Avoiding it, like he always does; he hasn't changed at all and this was all for nothing, and most of all he doesn't want to face that truth. He'd overreacted, not once or twice but fairly like a machine gun within the span of a few minutes — and again someone else is paying the price.
So maybe he does know why he thinks this is a good idea. The steps are slippery, and his legs ache from running so carelessly — who could blame him if he lost his footing? Who would miss him? Korei, who he has only ever managed to hurt? Outlander, who hardly knows him but has somehow been fooled into thinking he's worth a shit? His friends are safe now with Easthollow; they don't need him, and if he's so irreparably broken then he doesn't need himself. So of course he slips — of course he falls.
And of course he's lucky enough to make it to the bottom conscious and swallowing back the nausea that accompanies the fresh bruises forming across his body.