Oh, how wrong we were to think That immortality meant never dying
Whatever negativity or judgement Nate had been afraid of does not come to pass. Instead, there is warmth, there is relief, things that the ascended allows to flow through him as well. It strange, letting go of that automatic defensiveness, that learned ability to simply grit his teeth and keep quiet, but that new ease brings with it a genuine smile, one that only grows brighter as his hand is clasped. "I'm glad." Nate breathes, his shoulders dropping as his hand is released. "Jy weet nie hoeveel dit vir my beteken nie. Vir ons."
The hand is a good gesture, one that stops him from doing exactly what she'd feared and opening his mouth preemptively. "I... don't even know how to explain." Nate admits with a helpless shrug. "But you're right. He was... just trying to do something good." And instead, he'd wrenched apart the stability they had together, forced a wedge into a space that should be filled with love. "I don't know if... if intentions make it better, in this case."
He can't just leave it at that though, can he? He has to offer some explanation. "We... ended up on opposite sides of some... stupid divine war. And he made a deal for my life with uh... with his goddess." Even now, he cringes, even now, he knows he's leaving out so much. "It turns out part of that deal was uh, a kid, so..." A helpless shrug rolls over his shoulders, Nate glancing away with a huff, though he's careful to keep his good eye towards her, careful to watch for her reaction to his explanation.
His brows furrow, confusion pouring over his face like a flooded river. "Of course he wants to see you." Nate is not so naive to think blood alone makes family, that is a lesson he has learned well. But there is a different bond between siblings, even raised apart from each other. Without thinking his hand comes out, taking hers and squeezing gently. His touch might be cool, but it is no less supportive for it, no less calming. Hell, if Nate didn't know better, he'd wrap Saartjie in a hug. "He'll be happy to see you safe. I promise." He says it like a fact, like its written in stone, like he's not just assuming. At least he's a good liar.
Jy weet nie hoeveel dit vir my beteken nie. Vir ons. - You don't know how much it means to me. To us.
The hand is a good gesture, one that stops him from doing exactly what she'd feared and opening his mouth preemptively. "I... don't even know how to explain." Nate admits with a helpless shrug. "But you're right. He was... just trying to do something good." And instead, he'd wrenched apart the stability they had together, forced a wedge into a space that should be filled with love. "I don't know if... if intentions make it better, in this case."
He can't just leave it at that though, can he? He has to offer some explanation. "We... ended up on opposite sides of some... stupid divine war. And he made a deal for my life with uh... with his goddess." Even now, he cringes, even now, he knows he's leaving out so much. "It turns out part of that deal was uh, a kid, so..." A helpless shrug rolls over his shoulders, Nate glancing away with a huff, though he's careful to keep his good eye towards her, careful to watch for her reaction to his explanation.
His brows furrow, confusion pouring over his face like a flooded river. "Of course he wants to see you." Nate is not so naive to think blood alone makes family, that is a lesson he has learned well. But there is a different bond between siblings, even raised apart from each other. Without thinking his hand comes out, taking hers and squeezing gently. His touch might be cool, but it is no less supportive for it, no less calming. Hell, if Nate didn't know better, he'd wrap Saartjie in a hug. "He'll be happy to see you safe. I promise." He says it like a fact, like its written in stone, like he's not just assuming. At least he's a good liar.
Jy weet nie hoeveel dit vir my beteken nie. Vir ons. - You don't know how much it means to me. To us.
NATE
