Harper
Harper hums softly at the compliment, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. It's a sweet sentiment that he didn't expect from her.
"I tried the avoidant path as well. But I have many more years of facing that kind of darkness; I learned my lessons a lot earlier." He tilts his head to brush his nose against the curve of her head, inhaling her scent passively. "There's nothing wrong with taking your own time to learn what works for you. What outlook you have." They may be of a similar age, but Harper had lost his parents and been thrust into the world of child soldiers and assassinations before he was even double digits in age. It's not a wisdom he would wish upon her.
Instead, he squeezes her hand gently and lets her thumb trap his own like a tame bird. "All I can do is try to show you," he murmurs, breathing against her sun-warm hair. "Prove that people can be good and kind. That they can want good things for you, too." Capable of looking beyond themselves and seeing all that Maea offers, all the good she has in her own heart despite how she struggles.
The bite is unexpected, and Harper stiffens with a whistle between his teeth that might have been a hiss of pain if he hadn't caught it in time. His hand flexes beneath hers. He knows he could pull away if he wanted to, but he doesn't. Instead he looks down at her from an angle, bearing the discomfort as he asks, "Is this what you want to be doing? If it is, you have my consent." And if not, or even if she wants it now but it will awaken her bloodlust, then he will stop her. But he isn't afraid of her, and he isn't afraid of this.
"I tried the avoidant path as well. But I have many more years of facing that kind of darkness; I learned my lessons a lot earlier." He tilts his head to brush his nose against the curve of her head, inhaling her scent passively. "There's nothing wrong with taking your own time to learn what works for you. What outlook you have." They may be of a similar age, but Harper had lost his parents and been thrust into the world of child soldiers and assassinations before he was even double digits in age. It's not a wisdom he would wish upon her.
Instead, he squeezes her hand gently and lets her thumb trap his own like a tame bird. "All I can do is try to show you," he murmurs, breathing against her sun-warm hair. "Prove that people can be good and kind. That they can want good things for you, too." Capable of looking beyond themselves and seeing all that Maea offers, all the good she has in her own heart despite how she struggles.
The bite is unexpected, and Harper stiffens with a whistle between his teeth that might have been a hiss of pain if he hadn't caught it in time. His hand flexes beneath hers. He knows he could pull away if he wanted to, but he doesn't. Instead he looks down at her from an angle, bearing the discomfort as he asks, "Is this what you want to be doing? If it is, you have my consent." And if not, or even if she wants it now but it will awaken her bloodlust, then he will stop her. But he isn't afraid of her, and he isn't afraid of this.
I cut my teeth on second-hand sentiments
you can't trust a thing I say
you can't trust a thing I say
