[SE][OPEN] Never Learned to Swim

Peter Terrified of what I'd be As a kid, from what I've seen Every single day, when people try And put the pieces back together Just to smash them down Peter brows furrowed, first in surprise at the sudden stop, then in confusion at the withering glare and venomous tone. Confrontation was not his strong suit, even with children, but this was something worth fighting over, even if the only words that came to his were: ”Y-yes I am.” Before he could get another word in, Beatrix was barrelling along, talking her mother and making things click for Peter. ”Your... your mother, she’s um... she’s Zariah?” Her name was said with a whispered reverence, obvious even with his already soft tone. All at once Peter dropped into a crouch, keeping himself just lower than Beatrix’s eye level, an easy feat given their relative heights. ”She... I joi-... was recruited? She said... like a family. For loyalty.” He nodded, like that would make his barely explanation make more sense, seem more legitimate, and hoped the girl would believe him.