[Her touch on his shoulders, he registers the pressure of fingers pressed into the cloth of his uniform. Her words might as well cut through him, how poignantly they ring. How much meaning they carry behind them, someone wanting to protect him when Konoha had no real way to.
Connor’s still, so very still. Unsure how to process it, wanting to gravitate towards the comfort she’s trying to provide, while willfully trying to throw up walls against it. To ensure her that he can’t budge on this, and there are reasons why. Some kept closer to the chest than others.
And then she pulls him into a hug.
And he can’t — he just can’t — try to remain stoic, detached. It’s only the second time anyone’s tried to hug him, the first being Arenvald after his systems had threatened to shut down on Struxta, in a fit of relief. But this is different. This is worry wrought from circumstances back home, this is Konoha feeling sad for his sake.
(Why does everyone here care so much about him?)
He closes his eyes, brow tight, an arm coming up to loop around Konoha’s back.]
Here isn’t the problem.
[You’re not a failure. She’s wrong about that, too. None of this should be so hard, but it is. He shouldn’t make her feel this way, but he does.]
i give up you win
Connor’s still, so very still. Unsure how to process it, wanting to gravitate towards the comfort she’s trying to provide, while willfully trying to throw up walls against it. To ensure her that he can’t budge on this, and there are reasons why. Some kept closer to the chest than others.
And then she pulls him into a hug.
And he can’t — he just can’t — try to remain stoic, detached. It’s only the second time anyone’s tried to hug him, the first being Arenvald after his systems had threatened to shut down on Struxta, in a fit of relief. But this is different. This is worry wrought from circumstances back home, this is Konoha feeling sad for his sake.
(Why does everyone here care so much about him?)
He closes his eyes, brow tight, an arm coming up to loop around Konoha’s back.]
Here isn’t the problem.
[You’re not a failure. She’s wrong about that, too. None of this should be so hard, but it is. He shouldn’t make her feel this way, but he does.]