Good! Then you know how I feel when I see you like that!

[The words shove their way out of Ignis' mouth before he can stop them, but right afterward he snaps his mouth shut so hard his jaw aches, turning his face away from Soma and stepping back slightly. He would have to be both blind and deaf to not hear the change in the young man's voice. He would have to be a lot more stupid than he is not to imagine Soma cringing away from his anger.

Bloody, Ifrit-damned hell, he wanted Soma to stop tearing himself apart, but he didn't want this.]

Soma, I...

[Shame clearly colors the soft words. Ignis' wants to reach out to him, but he doesn't dare right now. What if the young man pulls away? He's not sure he could stand it.]

I shouldn't have... I just care so...

[Astrals, he's just as bad as Gladio, isn't he? Bottle up the emotion, but never deal with it. Not even when it finally bursts free and hurts all the wrong people.]

I just don't want you to suffer alone when I'm right here.