[Steve sees Grey's eyes drift closed, but he keeps talking. When the tablet falls into Grey's lap, Steve's voice cracks a little, but still he keeps talking, until he's sure, absolutely sure that Grey's not moving anymore, that he's not breathing. Steve falls abruptly silent, mid-sentence.]
"...Grey?"
[Steve looks down at his lap, swallowing hard around the lump in his throat before looking up again.]
"Hey buddy. I'm gonna—I'm gonna sign off now. ...Godspeed, kid."
[It's a few seconds before Steve can bring himself to close the connection and turn off the tablet screen, plunging himself into darkness. He curls up on the mattress, pulling the comforter tighter around himself.
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"...Grey?"
[Steve looks down at his lap, swallowing hard around the lump in his throat before looking up again.]
"Hey buddy. I'm gonna—I'm gonna sign off now. ...Godspeed, kid."
[It's a few seconds before Steve can bring himself to close the connection and turn off the tablet screen, plunging himself into darkness. He curls up on the mattress, pulling the comforter tighter around himself.
He doesn't sleep that night.]