Taako isn't sure what catches him more by surprise-- Axel taking his hand and squeezing it, or the sudden ring of fire summoned up around them. Not that he's not grateful for the fire, given his condition and the Count's sudden bird onslaught...

Okay. Fine. He closes his hand in Axel's, and lets himself fall back against the ground beside him, sighing.

"Yeah, fuck it, right?" He smirks tiredly. "Better than getting picked apart by a bunch of fuckin' birds, anyway."