He watched her quietly as she questioned the meaning of happiness, but he stayed silent and let her think through her words, turning his gaze to Isuma and petting the little gryphon soothingly as she did her best to comfort them both. For such a small creature she had a mighty heart, and she was stronger than he was in many ways, working tirelessly to ensure that he knew there was joy in his world, and that he was loved in a way the bond between them would never let him doubt.
Her sigh was so tired that he almost winced, feeling her weariness in his own bones. Blue eyes found her face again, but at her apology he shook his head. "If I can fall apart on you sometimes, then you can fall apart on me," he said gently, not disagreeing with her for once, but accepting her words and her unhappiness. "And after everything... Fiat Lux, Ronin, your legs... you don't have to be okay. Gods know no one else is." He exhaled slowly, glancing down at the hand that he had left palm-up on the bed near Isuma. "Besides, you gave me some important things to consider. Maybe none of us did enough, were enough, to change what happened... but we also didn't cause it, either. That's... not a way I'm used to looking at things, but you've given me something to try, at least. Thank you for that." It was a small lesson to take from their emotional talk, perhaps, but in time the seeds might grow into something healthier and stronger. Maybe strong enough for him to become someone worth the friendship they'd once shared again.
Her sigh was so tired that he almost winced, feeling her weariness in his own bones. Blue eyes found her face again, but at her apology he shook his head. "If I can fall apart on you sometimes, then you can fall apart on me," he said gently, not disagreeing with her for once, but accepting her words and her unhappiness. "And after everything... Fiat Lux, Ronin, your legs... you don't have to be okay. Gods know no one else is." He exhaled slowly, glancing down at the hand that he had left palm-up on the bed near Isuma. "Besides, you gave me some important things to consider. Maybe none of us did enough, were enough, to change what happened... but we also didn't cause it, either. That's... not a way I'm used to looking at things, but you've given me something to try, at least. Thank you for that." It was a small lesson to take from their emotional talk, perhaps, but in time the seeds might grow into something healthier and stronger. Maybe strong enough for him to become someone worth the friendship they'd once shared again.
