I'm sorry. But you say things like they're facts. Don't you see that you do that? You say things like they're obvious, and they're not. At least not to me. And I try and I try and you just say things like... like, "What did you think, everyone who needs your help is going to line up like a client with a list of their preferred kinks?" Don't you dare tell me that you don't understand that that implies I'm stupid. You know it does. You're not dumb. You knew it would hurt me.
And I don't know why you would do that.
But I'll try not to assume anything anymore.
[He's so tired and so confused and so hurt. But he is still doing his best to understand, to listen.]
Even if he has other people? Even if... even if he doesn't believe me, or thinks I'm stupid, or maybe even hates me?
[And he might be a little sorry for it, but this isn't the time for apologies.]
Yes. Whatever he's feeling right now is going to be a fucking mess anyway. Once he's up and walking again, if he's still treating you like that, that's when you recognise it and get out of there.
Be careful, then. What you're feeling, what you think love is, what they think it is, what it means. There's a lot of ways for things to go wrong, to miss the paths through because your head's full. To miss the bigger picture because you can't stop looking at them.
And take it from experience. Dying for someone is a lot easier than living for them.
Just being allowed to love them is enough; I really never expect it back. Certainly not to the same degree. So I don't know how well I'll navigate all of that, to be honest. But I'll try not to hurt anyone.
[Over the other side of town, in a boarding house room that belongs to two other people and not himself, the discussion of love falls on Takeshi's chest like an unwelcome demon, leering into his face with a raucous I told you so.
It makes a change from the ghost of Quell. But he can never dismiss that one, either.]
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And I don't know why you would do that.
But I'll try not to assume anything anymore.
[He's so tired and so confused and so hurt. But he is still doing his best to understand, to listen.]
Even if he has other people? Even if... even if he doesn't believe me, or thinks I'm stupid, or maybe even hates me?
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[And he might be a little sorry for it, but this isn't the time for apologies.]
Yes. Whatever he's feeling right now is going to be a fucking mess anyway. Once he's up and walking again, if he's still treating you like that, that's when you recognise it and get out of there.
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[He sighs.]
Okay. Okay, yeah.
...it's fucking torture staying away from him, anyway. I love him so much, Takeshi. It's scary.
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And take it from experience. Dying for someone is a lot easier than living for them.
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Just being allowed to love them is enough; I really never expect it back. Certainly not to the same degree. So I don't know how well I'll navigate all of that, to be honest. But I'll try not to hurt anyone.
Living is always harder. That at least I do know.
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It makes a change from the ghost of Quell. But he can never dismiss that one, either.]
I'll come by tomorrow. If you're still there.
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Thank you for being my friend, Takeshi. I know I don't always seem it, but I do appreciate you.