Look at me. The words were soft, but still a request (an order), and in his state Peter couldn't do anything other than listen, wide eyes moving up, finding Loren's and staying there. The words took a moment to reach him, to actually have meaning. Peter blinked, then leaned in, almost visibly clinging to the words. He knew, objectively, that Loren was right, but knowing something and believing it were different things. It was the believing he needed to work on.
When the other man paused, long enough to take a breath, Peter breathed with him, swallowing the lump in his throat and trying to keep it there, stifled inside. His gaze hadn't moved, still locked on the summoner, but they were watery now, just for himself. The certainty with which Loren spoke, the way every word was right made his chest pound. Finally having words for what he felt, and knowing someone else felt it too, it was... indescribable.
It wasn't enough to actually heal anything, but it was a start. Maybe. Hopefully. Peter looked away then, back down at the holes they'd been making, the seeds they'd planted, and he nodded. "I... Thank you. I'm um... yea." He rubbed at his face, as if scrubbing away any of the evidence of his distress, and looked back up Loren, his eyes red, along with the places he'd rubbed at too hard. "Are... are you...?" Peter didn't know what he was trying to ask, but hoped somehow Loren would.
PETER
I always thought I might be bad
Now I'm sure that it's true
'cause I think you're so good
And I'm nothing like you
Now I'm sure that it's true
'cause I think you're so good
And I'm nothing like you
