[ That statement catches K completely by surprise and it shows. It's even more surprising than the fact Royce acted so selflessly toward him in the first place, though maybe it shouldn't be. But being told Royce cares about him by the person closest to Royce who knows him best is — something he needs a moment to process.

Then he continues the story. ]

I had to pull him off of it. [ The least ideal situation when it comes to impalement wounds, but there wasn't any other option with the rebar still being attached to the wall. ] I couldn't slow the bleeding and carry him at the same time, and he was too weak to keep pressure on it himself. Tried to keep him talking to me, but by the time I got him to the med bay, I thought... [ There's an echo of the horror he'd felt in his expression even now; he'd thought Royce had bled to death in his arms. And he quite nearly had. ]

The MODs helped operate the machine that stabilised and healed him. When he first woke up he seemed okay, and then he — wasn't. Just like that. He asked what his price is. He said he could balance, he could lie, but he wasn't sure if he could remember everything.

I told him he didn't die. He came close... but he didn't die. That got through to him, but he didn't really seem like himself for a while after that. [ A notion only reinforced by the fact Royce had sort of been flirting with him at one point. Should he... mention that? He isn't sure. ] Understandably.