[ The scene keeps playing out. Isaac making small, hurt noises like an animal as Mateo held him. Julio wheezing and numb. Both clinging to Mateo because he'd been a few years older and because what else were they supposed to do, down there in the dark? But that might have been where the lines were drawn, all those years ago. Because they clung to each other and Gabe stayed with their mother. Held her hand until the first responders finally dug deep enough to fish them out.

He drags a hand down his face, shaking his head. He feels suddenly, almost painfully tired. This never ends, does it? ]

Wasn't our fight.

[ He has to explain. Otherwise they'll both bleed and Daryl doesn't deserve that shit. ]

It was some corporate shit. Wasn't about us. Wrong place, wrong time, you know? Only the fuckers took out most of the building when the bomb went off, and then they were smart.

[ He makes a strangled sound. Bitter laughter. ]

They were smart, see, 'cause they had the secondary device on a timer. Tore the first responders to shreds. Took 'em fifteen hours to sweep the area and dig us out, after. Me and Mateo, we were fine. Julio, he was fucked for a while but he shook it eventually. But Isaac never walked right. Couldn't shake it. All because some operator was smart when they did that shit. Targeted the supports, timed it just right. Maximum disruption. Though they didn't coat the shrapnel in rat poison, so, room for fucking improvement.

[ He's talking too fast, the words coming out rapid fire. ]

You wanna know how I know that? Because that was me, later. They trained me up and I did -

[ And the words die. He twitches. ]

I know what I am, okay? I know. You didn't deserve that shit, Daryl.