[His hand tightens in hers the moment the pressure against his face lightens, the fear of her leaving surging up despite himself. She promised to stay with him, but could he really blame her for running off to find Ryoji after hearing this? He should've been revived by now too, right? A part of Scott wants to find out, make sure that his friend came back like everyone else. Phoenix... Phoenix couldn't have killed him for good, right? No matter how determined she was-- he was?? Still, he doesn't want her to leave him, desperate to have her warmth nearby despite everything he did.

He doesn't want her to go. Even if she's upset with him.

Tears develop in his eyes once more, unable to stop himself even though he was trying so hard to keep himself stable for her. But try as he might, they start to spill down his cheeks as he looks at her. She's so upset, he can tell, even if she's trying hard to hold it. He... he doesn't want that, but it really is so painful to see her like this. Know that he's the one that made her feel this way. He's not sure if he can tell her to be more upset at him, yell her feelings, not as he feels so afraid himself.

Words begin to rush out of him, the mutant almost babbling as his hand tightens even further in hers.]

I-I didn't want to, Kotone. [He's pleading now, wanting her to know this even though some of it sounds like an excuse. He still killed Ryoji in the end, but he doesn't want to be that person. He's not that--] Please believe me... I didn't want to hurt him. So much was happening-- I-I was so hurt but I didn't, really-- I shifted and there was this burning force inside me--

[Or not really him, but another Scott, but he still remembers how it felt. Scott shakes his head, voice cracking further.] I... I didn't want to...