[ His questions only serve to flame the simmering upset within her, none of it at all directed at him.
He calls himself weak, but she's never seen him weak. He says he's wanted to run away, to live, as if anyone wanting to live is such a selfish request even in the face of self-sacrifice. When has he ever run away, anyway?! Perhaps put off some unpleasant conversations, but he's always done what others have asked of him, what was necessary. He's always fought for others. He's questioning his value, and if the goal of having these memories is to crush him utterly, then she's watching it happen in real time.
(Had exploring this part of his soul been a mistake?)
She refuses to let these memories 'win' in that sort of way. ] Noct.... Listen, please, listen.
[ She pulls away from him, her hand withdrawing from his shoulder to go to his cheek, cupping and supporting his face so that he may look at her. ]
I know you-- and I adore your want to fight and protect others... but at the same time [ Her voice wavers, and she looks at him helplessly. ] am so, so frightened of it, too, because you always put others above yourself.
[ It's the same sort of love she has for her own world and the people in it. Of course she wants to live, too, to be with those she loves. Of course that same love drives her to protect them, and to sacrifice herself for it.
He wouldn't run away, because as much as he loves his friends, as much as he'd want to be with them-- she knows for certain that he would not want to see them suffer. The gods and crystal may have read his wants, but they completely misunderstood his love and want to protect others, and in their fear that their Chosen would not obey, they hurt him further. ]
You don't deserve this-- because they don't know how much you love your friends, your family, how much you would do for them, no matter what cost. They underestimated you, and...
Your gods, your crystal... They really don't know, do they? [ A short, breathless and wry half-laugh escapes her in disbelief. This is a lesson that he had taught her, too. As it turns out, gods and immortals anywhere can stand to learn something from him. ]
You are not selfish for wanting to live, for wanting to be with those you love.
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He calls himself weak, but she's never seen him weak. He says he's wanted to run away, to live, as if anyone wanting to live is such a selfish request even in the face of self-sacrifice. When has he ever run away, anyway?! Perhaps put off some unpleasant conversations, but he's always done what others have asked of him, what was necessary. He's always fought for others. He's questioning his value, and if the goal of having these memories is to crush him utterly, then she's watching it happen in real time.
(Had exploring this part of his soul been a mistake?)
She refuses to let these memories 'win' in that sort of way. ] Noct.... Listen, please, listen.
[ She pulls away from him, her hand withdrawing from his shoulder to go to his cheek, cupping and supporting his face so that he may look at her. ]
I know you-- and I adore your want to fight and protect others... but at the same time [ Her voice wavers, and she looks at him helplessly. ] am so, so frightened of it, too, because you always put others above yourself.
[ It's the same sort of love she has for her own world and the people in it. Of course she wants to live, too, to be with those she loves. Of course that same love drives her to protect them, and to sacrifice herself for it.
He wouldn't run away, because as much as he loves his friends, as much as he'd want to be with them-- she knows for certain that he would not want to see them suffer. The gods and crystal may have read his wants, but they completely misunderstood his love and want to protect others, and in their fear that their Chosen would not obey, they hurt him further. ]
You don't deserve this-- because they don't know how much you love your friends, your family, how much you would do for them, no matter what cost. They underestimated you, and...
Your gods, your crystal... They really don't know, do they? [ A short, breathless and wry half-laugh escapes her in disbelief. This is a lesson that he had taught her, too. As it turns out, gods and immortals anywhere can stand to learn something from him. ]
You are not selfish for wanting to live, for wanting to be with those you love.