Doctor, Doctor, gimme the news~

[rungout]

WHO: Rung and whoever wants to stop in!
WHERE: The good doctor's office
WHEN: It's an all day affair at Rung's office~ A few days after he discovered his new abilities.
WHAT: Therapy sessions and go!
WARNINGS: Dark pasts, etc?


Yep, it was that time again.

Now that things were somewhat back to normal for the resident therapist, Rung had put out the word that he would be taking patients again. He had missed it, helping others, and it was time to get his mind off everything that had happened to him over the past few weeks.

His office had been cleaned up and rearranged a bit, the therapist just wanting to change the atmosphere a bit.

Make it more personable than it had been before.

Satisfied with what he'd done, the front door had been propped open and he was settled at his desk, going over some files as he absently toyed with a ball of light.

Comments

[warborn]

"No. It's not. The more I keep away, the more time I have to try and get a handle on this, alright?"

By now, his voice has taken on a - frustrated, sullen, angry? - more defensive tone.

"Because the next time I do have an 'outburst', I'll be damned if I do hurt someone, or worse. Again."

[rungout]

"But how can you handle it if you won't let it out? You bottle it all inside, Max, and it's just festering!" Rung countered, standing and moving around the desk, not approaching the other yet but holding out a hand as both a calming gesture and to try and get the other to come over to him.

"You won't hurt anyone as long as you have the determination and the willpower not to, Max. You just have to trust yourself."

1/2 for icons

[warborn]

There was something to be said about hitting the nail on the head. Snarling, shouting, spinning around-

"I don't!"

With fists clenched, Maximus spun around, looking for a moment as though he was going to outburst more than just words-

2/2 done

[warborn]

-but for whatever credit it was, for whatever use it was, he didn't. He visibly struggled, clenching his denta-

"I don't...trust. Myself."

And there. There it was. He looked down, optics dimming to near-black.

;-; Max bb

[rungout]

To Rung's credit, the outburst didn't cause him to freak out or anything of that nature. He actually kept himself collected, flinching only the slightest bit when Fort Max first turned on him during his little outburst--

But otherwise his gaze was steady and understanding, studying the other as Max visibly got himself under control.

It was a start and a good sign. (On the inside, though, was a whole other story because Rung's spark was fluttering in a panic, his vents cycling quickly as he eased the minor panic creeping in. But as long as it stayed on the inside, he was fine.)

"Max.." the therapist said softly after a moment, his hand outstretched once more to the other. "It's something to build, that you will have to work on, but I trust you. And I want to help you trust yourself if you'll let me. Considering what you just did, you should trust yourself. Because you've come a long way."

weh

[warborn]

The gaze may have been understanding, the hand may have been offered...but Max's optics were dim and lowered, and after a moment, he turned completely. His treads rattled as he cycled, hard, moving to put a hand on the chair he'd been resting on earlier.

"Doesn't matter," he mumbled. "One time- doesn't mean anything. 'Mgoing to do it again. And hurt someone. Or...worse."

[rungout]

"One time means everything, Max," Rung objected, shaking his head and taking a few steps towards the other, finally lowering his hand for the time being.

"It's a start, and everyone needs one of those. We all need a starting point when it comes to something like recovery and you've found it. Now you just need to keep going and don't let the 'What ifs' keep you from doing so," he said softly as he hesitantly reached out to rest a hand over the other Max had placed on the chair.

"It's terrifying, I know it can be, but you have to be willing to take a few risks."

[warborn]

"It's not 'what if' if it's just a matter of time."

Max didn't move. Other than a subtle, almost imperceptible flinch under Rung's hand...

"I don't- want. To hurt anyone. But when I get...like that, I can't...I just..."

He couldn't risk it. Not more than he already had.

[rungout]

"You can control it though, Max, you just proved as much to me," Rung said softly, squeezing the other's hand gently since he hadn't pulled away. "I know you don't want to hurt anyone and if you just hang onto that and build your strength around that, you won't hurt others. Verbal outbursts are something everyone does. I know you have the control needed to keep it from becoming something physical."

[warborn]

"I can't...

He couldn't. Couldn't keep himself from responding. Reacting. No matter how much he walled off-

"I can't...control...myself."

Even now. Even with his vents whirring and him trying desperately to not appear so pitifully weak- he couldn't.

[rungout]

"Maybe not right now but you will be able to, Max, and I'm going to help you get to that point. It's not going to be easy but we'll get there," Rung assured the other, determination in his voice.

He hadn't given up on the other yet; he wasn't about to now.

Shifting in front of the other, Rung reached up to touch the other's cheeks, optics dimming in a gentle expression as he wished there was something he could do to make it better right now.

"We can beat this, Max. We can. And I know you don't trust yourself but please..trust me. You can get through this, I know you can."

[warborn]

"..."

Considering he'd all but given up on himself...

No, that wasn't true. Fortress Maximus had been moving forwards, but that was just it; he wasn't doing anything else. He'd resigned himself to things being as they were now, without any hope of getting better-

-it hurt too much. To hope. And to have that hope constantly taken away. Not hoping was far, far easier.

Trust me.

Trust this small, wretchedly weak mech who could hardly take care of himself, how could he take care of anyone else-

"...have you. Seen worse?"

[rungout]

"I have, yes. The cases I've dealt with over the years have been numerous and with all types. You aren't hopeless, Max. No one is and I've never given up on someone before," Rung said sincerely, hands still on the other's cheeks because he wasn't about to break contact with him now that he's initiated it.

He's not afraid, Max.

"You can get through this and move forward in a way that isn't just drifting along. You can be so much more, even with everything that you've gone through and I want to help you do it."

[warborn]

It almost hurts to hear it. It's certainly twisting his spark as it insists he's broken beyond repair, shouting against any dare of hope, as it violently rebukes any sort of comfort...

His vents heave a heavy sigh.

"I'm so tired of this."

SORRY ABOUT THAT >>;

[rungout]

"I know you are. You've fought long and hard, Max, but you are making progress. Let me help you bear some of this wright and we'll get to the finish line together," Rung replied softly, spark aching a bit more because Primus did he wish he could just fix things right then and there.

But, even without that easy fix, he was still ready and willing to go the distance with the other.

"You aren't alone, Max."

<3

[warborn]

"How?"

He needs a route. He needs an anchor. Something to believe in. Something other than a voice whose owner he can only barely look at, something-

Spark, he's so tired of all of this.

[rungout]

"By not giving up. But, for any of this to happen, you have to not give up, Max. You have to want to get rid of the fear; you have to want to keep living your life instead of letting your fears rule it," the therapist replied, finally moving his hands so they fell to rest on the larger mech's shoulders, giving them a gentle squeeze. "And it's not easy, won't lie to you. But that's why I'm here to help. The goal is to be able to control your fears and keep control even when faced with something that use to terrify you and I know you can get there, Max. I know you can."

[warborn]

"I'm not-"

But he is. Afraid, that is. Still, Fort Max grits his teeth, helplessly frustrated from the cycle he's found himself in.

"I want it gone. I don't want to be like this. I just-"

He exvents harshly, lowering his gaze as he clenches his hands just a bit.

"-Rung, I know that I can't take much more. I can't- I'm still at my breaking point. If there's another step back, I'll..."

He doesn't know. It won't end well, at least, he knows that.

[rungout]

The therapist doesn't hesitate as he reaches for one of other's much larger hands, holding it in both of his as he shakes his head.

"Stop, Max. Don't talk like that. There won't be anymore steps back. The time to move forward is now and that's where this is going to go; forward," he said firmly, squeezing the other's hand to stress his point.

He hadn't given you enough focus in the past, Max, but that's going to change now. You're high priority for him.

"We'll find a pace that works for you and move at that pace. I don't care how long it takes though because I'm not going anywhere. I promised to help you, back when you started your sessions with me, and that hasn't changed now."

[warborn]

Silence. Max's red optics focus on the orange hands wrapping around his own, then finally glance up towards Rung. His face is unreadable, but his eyes, searching almost desperately...

"...All right."

This time, when he bows his head, he's leaning forwards just enough so that it's resting against Rung himself.

"All right," he says again, this time mostly to himself.

[rungout]

Optics softening, Rung gives the other's hand one last squeeze before he lets go and, doing something a bit..unprofessional perhaps, he wraps his arms around the other's neck a bit, hugging Max slightly since the other is resting against him a bit.

"I won't let you fall anymore, Max. I promise."

And he would keep that promise, no matter what.

[warborn]

There's no response to that. At least, nothing verbal. There's a wordless shudder that runs through Maximus, a subtle sag, and the raising of a hand - just to rest it on Rung's form. It's not quite clutching him, but it does take a hold, as if trying to ensure Rung will stay.

He needs this, if just for a few moments. Even if he'll never admit it aloud.