If I can stop one heart from breaking
If I can ease one life the aching
If I can ease one life the aching
With the bond open now he can start to feel the deep, restricted feelings she hasn’t put into words. Emotions Harper could have guessed were living in her bones but which now rose to the surface like struggling demons against the refrain of his comfort and reassurance. It is like a tug of war, and Harper doesn’t intend to lose; keeping the waves of love and empathy reaching out to her like the ocean tides, relentless. And above all else, the sense of protection that comes from his arms and from within. Here, she is safe. Physically, emotionally, her secrets, her fears, even the bitter anger and hatred he can feel stirring deep inside the bond.
Her realization is heartbreaking, and Harper can only smile sadly down at her as he sees it all dawn at once. It is a secret he doesn’t mind sharing now as an adult, comfortable in his peace with the event. He knows it will only help - the final bail of realization as the tables turn and the same sentiments spring to the front of her own mind. So when she crumples he is there to catch and hold her, as he always will be. Rocking her as gently as he would a newborn.
“It’s okay to be angry. Hateful, bitter, scared. There is no wrong way to feel about what happened.” She will feel all of it and more for a very long time until she too comes out the other side, healed but still scarred. “And it’s also okay to want to get stronger, or to not. To change where you linger or go back to where it happened. Your healing journey is yours. Nobody - not even me - can tell you what you should or shouldn’t do to make yourself feel safer.” Pressing a kiss to her head, Harper squeezes her close. “And if you want me to train you, or go with you to the alley, or gods forbid even help you move - I am right here ready to do it.”
Pulling away slightly he cranes his head to try and find her eyes, offering a small smile as he pours one last emotion into the bond, isolated and deeper than an ocean. “Because I love you kiddo. And I’m so happy that you’re safe. It’s okay not to be okay, because at least there’s that.”
Her realization is heartbreaking, and Harper can only smile sadly down at her as he sees it all dawn at once. It is a secret he doesn’t mind sharing now as an adult, comfortable in his peace with the event. He knows it will only help - the final bail of realization as the tables turn and the same sentiments spring to the front of her own mind. So when she crumples he is there to catch and hold her, as he always will be. Rocking her as gently as he would a newborn.
“It’s okay to be angry. Hateful, bitter, scared. There is no wrong way to feel about what happened.” She will feel all of it and more for a very long time until she too comes out the other side, healed but still scarred. “And it’s also okay to want to get stronger, or to not. To change where you linger or go back to where it happened. Your healing journey is yours. Nobody - not even me - can tell you what you should or shouldn’t do to make yourself feel safer.” Pressing a kiss to her head, Harper squeezes her close. “And if you want me to train you, or go with you to the alley, or gods forbid even help you move - I am right here ready to do it.”
Pulling away slightly he cranes his head to try and find her eyes, offering a small smile as he pours one last emotion into the bond, isolated and deeper than an ocean. “Because I love you kiddo. And I’m so happy that you’re safe. It’s okay not to be okay, because at least there’s that.”
I shall not live in vain
HARPER
