[ Ice. More ice wedged into a wound that isn't his own. He's heard the name only once before, but he has all the context he needs to understand. That in itself is— something for later. For all it has to be is terrible.
Comprehension yawning open, he holds on. Shakes his head where it's pressed to Takeshi's, doesn't move away even an inch. ]
People say all kinds of things. To survive.
[ It's a poor excuse for a balm and Stephen knows it. Lie or not, how could he know? Takeshi, though. Takeshi could know. Takeshi who looks and can't help but see. He could know. And even if grief and the weight of his decision could cloud his judgement, even if his sister could blind him to truth, what good is a maybe-lie? What help is not knowing? ]
no subject
Comprehension yawning open, he holds on. Shakes his head where it's pressed to Takeshi's, doesn't move away even an inch. ]
People say all kinds of things. To survive.
[ It's a poor excuse for a balm and Stephen knows it. Lie or not, how could he know? Takeshi, though. Takeshi could know. Takeshi who looks and can't help but see. He could know. And even if grief and the weight of his decision could cloud his judgement, even if his sister could blind him to truth, what good is a maybe-lie? What help is not knowing? ]