you have survived every moment of your life
even the ones you swore you wouldn't
Her words remind him of Kiada, and how she too will never see some of her family again. How he'd been ashamed of his own envy, that at least she had been blessed for some of her family to end up in the same place. The bluntness, more than anything, actually helps. Harper is a mercenary at worst, a protector at best. Having a mission, a goal, clear lines of what his options are speak more to him than fanciful comforts. Not that he doesn't lean into those even still, touch-starved and needy. "I know. And...I know I will move forward, that I must. But the pain is so hard to push down this time. Even after all I've done, all I've experienced." Admittedly he hadn't anticipated it being this hard. He'd lost his parents before his very eyes, had been brainwashed and forced to kill, had lost friends and family both painfully young and old alike in various wars against metahumans and demigods alike. But none of it had inspired such a level of despair as knowing he'd never see them again.
"Time heals all things," he agrees softly, though it is haggard and hoarse when spoken. It may be true, but the day to day struggle is not diminished by that knowledge.
Sighing, Harper also turns his eyes away, both pairs of blues perusing the sky above. "I have always moved forward. No matter what. I simply...have no choice. But if you have recommendations for meditations," he shrugs weakly and turns his gaze back to her. Always one to try something new. Though his cheeks go a bit pink and he laughs, a bit high pitched, at the notion that the spirits have been paying attention to his love life. "They're tentative ideas at best. Dating multiple people to find the one your heart resonates with was more popular in my world. And I just...for many of them, I firmly believe that I am not what's best for them." Shame shadows over his face and Harper grimaces, turning away once more to conceal that particular rooted line of terrible self-worth.
"Time heals all things," he agrees softly, though it is haggard and hoarse when spoken. It may be true, but the day to day struggle is not diminished by that knowledge.
Sighing, Harper also turns his eyes away, both pairs of blues perusing the sky above. "I have always moved forward. No matter what. I simply...have no choice. But if you have recommendations for meditations," he shrugs weakly and turns his gaze back to her. Always one to try something new. Though his cheeks go a bit pink and he laughs, a bit high pitched, at the notion that the spirits have been paying attention to his love life. "They're tentative ideas at best. Dating multiple people to find the one your heart resonates with was more popular in my world. And I just...for many of them, I firmly believe that I am not what's best for them." Shame shadows over his face and Harper grimaces, turning away once more to conceal that particular rooted line of terrible self-worth.
this time is no different
you will last
