if you're scared of the darkness, i will calm your fear

“The gash on his shoulder is infected.”

Roy’s heart sank at the quiet, grim words, blinking several times to force his eyes to focus on Marcoh, who looked tired and so much older than he was. Ling was still a little blurry, but he could see the kid’s lip tremble a bit before he pressed them together and ducked his head, his entire body curved away from the gentle hands probing worriedly at the wound. “It’s gotten worse quite rapidly—and I’d imagine the pain has, too?” This question was directed at Ling, who managed a jerky, unsteady nod in response, his body still tense and wary as Marcoh withdrew and glanced up at Roy. “If it gets much worse, it might need to be amputated.”

Or: Ling reopening the gash on his shoulder during his previous breakdown has some consequences, including but not limited to: an infection of the woundheavy introspection on Roy's parteven heavier parental feelings on Roy's partand more feelings of inadequacy for this tired, burned-out child