"B-Bunny--!" The inhuman noise shook Wild Tiger, freezing the blood in his veins. His tremoring hands pulled Barnaby's head up to tell if that sound had truly come from his partner, but what he saw on the young man's face was far worse than any howl. The skins between his dark hands was sloughing off like it was made out of paint and the blond had gotten caught in a rainstorm. Blood began to pool and dribble down the back of his hands and it was suddenly too much to take.

The hysteria Wild Tiger had kept at bay behind a thin veil of denial and desperate hope broke and he began to cry. "Bunny!" he sobbed, unable to form any other words. "Bunny, Bunny, I'm sorry!" It all came out before he could stop himself or even understand why he had needed to say it. Perhaps he was sorry for not being a better partner. If he had been more serious or if his powers hadn't been in recession he may have been able to stop this before the infection destroyed Barnaby from the inside out. Maybe it was for the fact that now his partner would die without ever knowing who killed his parents and that was his fault. He should have told him immediately! He knew he was being an ass, but he was too selfish and cowardly to tarnish their friendship now that they had been reunited.