[ he's right to worry, because charles feels like he might collapse now that he no longer has to keep himself functional with nothing but his sheer force of will — if he was human that'd never work, but for ghosts, intent is what matters, and he's long since learned how to push himself to the limit when necessary.

and yet, when his eyes land on junpei, he breaks into a smile like every single thing that's wrong in the world has suddenly been made right. ] Junpei.

[ that's all he says, for a few moments, just his name paired with that look of undisguised affection and relief. ]

I'm — [ he does as instructed, leaning his weight on junpei and intending to reassure him that he's doing fine, really, except the movement has him wincing as he presses his hand against his side. ]

It wasn't, [ it wasn't my fault, except let him take a breath, ] I tried, yeah? I promise I tried. But they had iron arrows. It could... have been worse.

[ it very nearly was worse, so much worse, but he doesn't intend to ever let junpei know just how close of a call it was. ]