[ It's worse because it had been fun at the start. The thrill of sizing up a new opponent and realizing they were good, that he'd really have to work to win. That had been novel, a change of pace from all the life and death shit back home. Like the fight ring, not too long ago. Nothing serious, nothing that would matter in a few hours. Maybe a few bruises, maybe a black eye to tell the tale, but it was as close to a game as something like him could get. And then it had changed, somewhere along the line. It had turned too real and almost ended the same way.
He stares at her for a long moment. ]
Okay.
[ He can't think of anything else to do. There's no changing what happened, so there's nothing to do but move forward and hope the mistake won't be repeated.
God, he's tired now. Part of him just wants to stagger off and pass out somewhere dark, but that won't change anything. And part of him, the part that still likes people, sometimes, does want to try and fix this. ]
Okay. We can. Get food.
[ His signing is halting, clumsy. He's out of practice and it shows. But the rage and fear from moments earlier were familiar and slotted so easily into his brain that they might have come from him, and not a stranger. They have that in common, at least.
That, and the ability to hurt people. He has a feeling they're both very good at that. But there was more to him once, even if there isn't anymore, and maybe, maybe he can pretend to be a person for a little while. Maybe that would be okay. ]
no subject
He stares at her for a long moment. ]
Okay.
[ He can't think of anything else to do. There's no changing what happened, so there's nothing to do but move forward and hope the mistake won't be repeated.
God, he's tired now. Part of him just wants to stagger off and pass out somewhere dark, but that won't change anything. And part of him, the part that still likes people, sometimes, does want to try and fix this. ]
Okay. We can. Get food.
[ His signing is halting, clumsy. He's out of practice and it shows. But the rage and fear from moments earlier were familiar and slotted so easily into his brain that they might have come from him, and not a stranger. They have that in common, at least.
That, and the ability to hurt people. He has a feeling they're both very good at that. But there was more to him once, even if there isn't anymore, and maybe, maybe he can pretend to be a person for a little while. Maybe that would be okay. ]