[ matt bites his bottom lip. there's more he wants to ask - what wasn't real, exactly, what did Kyogre do to him - but he lets it go, for now, unwilling to drag the full truth out of archie when he's like this. he just wraps him against his side a little tighter, shutting his eyes and trying to measure his breathing. ]

I'm not-- saying this to be cold, but you being strong for me kinda fucked up our relationship back home. Not that-- wait. [ ugh, he's not saying this right, he doesn't want to sound like he's bringing up something so real about the two of them just to make the point. that would be toxic, he thinks, and he struggles through his stupid fuckin' head to find the right words. ]

I don't know what was goin' through your head, when-- the meteor. You didn't talk to me, about what you were feeling, or about what I was doing, or about what we'd just been through, or-- anything. Maybe that was 'cause you were grieving or because you were tryin' not to look weak in front of me or whatever, but it fucked me up, you not talking to me. And, like. I assumed the worst. That you hated me, that you wished you'd never met me, all kindsa shit. And that's not-- who we are any more. It ain't who we gotta be, you know? Part of us being in a proper relationship means you've gotta talk to me about shit like this, bro. I don't want you to try and be strong, I just want you to try and be honest. You're strong as hell without even trying, but being honest? Man, that's something you've gotta work on. And I'm--

I ain't criticizing, I'm just. Sayin' that I'm here. You ain't alone anymore. You can be tired as much as you want. I'll carry you. When I'm tired, you can carry me. Yeah? We gotta be equal.