i'll walk through the shadow with you

Lillith's shocked expression when they crossed paths told Romulus all he needed to know about how bad his condition had gotten. He backpedaled a couple of steps down the stairs, looking at his lover with shock and dread. He hadn't wanted her to see him like this, but realistically, what was he going to do? Avoid her indefinitely until his condition improved? Who knew how long that would take—or if it would ever change? He'd done his best to try and quarantine himself away from Lil, refusing snuggles and kisses under the guise of not feeling well and not wanting to jeopardize her already fragile immune system. He didn't know what was going on with him, but he definitely didn't want Lil catching it!

She asked how this had happened, but Roman gave no response. He had no answer to give her when he had no idea himself. Wide, frightened silver eyes pleaded for her to stay back from him, but she approached all the same. "Don't touch them!" he snapped abruptly and backpedaled so quickly he slipped and tumbled a couple steps down on his rump, mostly unharmed other than a slight bruising. "Lil, I'm... I'm sorry, just... please don't touch them. I don't want you getting them as well." While not outright painful on their own, the crystal growths did feel strange, and the compulsion to pick and claw at them was overwhelming. The healer side of his brain knew better though, and despite the grating irritation it caused, he did his best to resist.

Roman lifted his bandaged paw to keep Lil arm's length away from him, feeling more and more like a leper of some kind. He had to protect her from himself and whatever the hell was doing this to him. "Please, don't tell anyone," he begged her with pleading eyes. The last thing he wanted was word getting around to the Aegis, and having Artorias force him into a cell for quarantining or something.

"Speech"