When Zen came to, he could hear beepings from machines. He laid on a bed, and he knew there wasn't any doubt that he was in an infirmary. It hurt to breathe, and his body ached from the hell he had put himself through. He focused on just breathing for the longest time, keeping his eyes shut as he listened to the machines beeping around him. He was alive, but he didn't want to be. The ache in his chest wasn't something he was sure he could carry for the rest of his eternal life.

Finally, he opened his eyes. The lights were dim in the room but it still hurt. He let out a huff of pain, closing his eyes again.

"You know," Zen's eyes opened quickly and glanced to the side, "you could've asked for my help." He stared before he sighed softly. Malum sat in a chair next to his bed, one leg thrown over the other, leaned back in the chair with his arms crossed over his chest. He was staring at him with an amused smirk on his lips, but Zen could see a different emotion in his eyes. He refused to believe that Malum of all people was worried about him. He looked forward and took note of where they were. They were in the infirmary indeed, but not in any of the rooms he had seen. He had been in a few for some scraps he had gotten during those missions. They were small and simple, with an uncomfortable bed. But he was in a room with many machines and a bigger, much more comfortable bed. He had enough room to stretch his legs, but even then he was curled up a little subconsciously with his hand on his chest and his other was up beside his head. He was in his clothes from before, though his jacket was gone, along with his scarf. A quick glance around told him they were hanging up beside the door.

When it was obvious that Zen wasn't going to talk, Malum did. "Are you hungry? In pain? Should I get Vada?"

"There's nothing she can do," Zen muttered because he knew Malum wanted an answer. "It'll go away." Malum was silent for a while, and it was like bliss to Zen. But of course, it didn't last.

"Juno's words didn't force your hand, did it?" He asked. Zen didn't respond. "I had planned on asking you to break the connection for obvious reasons, but I wanted to do it in a controlled environment so that this didn't happen." He stared at the Demigod whose face was turned towards him, but the dark blue eyes were still on his shoes. His face was pale and his eyes looked dead. "... I know it was hard for you. I can't imagine how much it hurt, physically and emotionally."

Zen growled, but there was little anger. "I... If this is some test of loyalty," he spat, "you can know that I've passed. I feel nothing emotionally. They abandoned me, and now I have returned the favor." He closed his eyes. "I only wish I had done it before I fucked everything up." Malum scoffed.

"You've hardly fucked anything up." He stood and walked up to his bedside. He reached down and just barely brushed his fingertips over Zen's forehead, feeling his temperature. With the cursed man closer, Zen could feel his heat and he couldn't help the shudder that racked his body. He didn't open his eyes, refusing to see if it had gotten an emotion out of Malum. "You made a mistake. We all make them, even me." Heh. Zen thought bitterly. You don't even know. "I believe you've made up a good portion of that mistake by saving my life." Zen merely scoffed in response. "But you should rest, Zen. I won't keep you up. Vada said you need to rest your core."

Zen could already feel himself dozing off. The room, though it was too white and clean, was almost... Comforting. It'd be better if Malum wasn't there, because then he'd be completely cut off from the world. That's what he deserved. He believed he shouldn't be around people. At the end of the day, all he caused was pain and misery. "Goodnight, Zen," Malum said as he walked towards the door, and Zen let out a soft sigh as he kept his eyes shut. He relaxed into the bed and just breathed, and passively tried to let the pain seep out of his skin.

Malum watched him fall asleep from the doorway to the room, and he watched a little longer afterward. Then, rather suddenly, he turned and left. The door shut behind him with a soft click.