Her touch leached out some of the remaining anger and agitation and he closed his mouth and listened. He listened, and he tried to understand.
He felt sad for her in a way he'd never be able to get out, because he wanted so much for her to know and feel how he did. But here she was confessing that she never could, and that left him feeling... useless? Almost, at the very least lacking to a great degree that felt close to being no good for her.
It was an old feeling, one he carried a long time before when he decided he'd been no good for Starla, and it hurt.
The only thing that helped the feeling was her saying she was happy with at least part of her life here, and that she did wish she could belong. It gave him a small bit of hope to hang onto.
"I'm no hero," he said softly, closing his eyes. "I did what I had to because it's my job. It was my responsibility."
There hadn't been anyone else. And after, he'd ignored the lingering shadows of worry that it wasn't over in favor of focusing on the relief that he'd done it.
Looking at her, he shook his head. "If I feel like there's somethin' more, like someday there's gonna be another call it's only because that's my job, too. But I don't let it run me, or ruin the life I'm tryin' to live right now."
The weight of the badge was heavy, and some days it was harder to shoulder than others, but it was a weight he could bear.
"I am proud of you, Clarice. For how far you've come, for everything you've done for us here. I just wish you could be done, too." He gave her a sad smile, and he was finished arguing about it.
"I don't think you're an idiot, though. An' I know this is somethin' important to you, so I'll be there." And any more worry or protests he had he'd keep to himself.
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He felt sad for her in a way he'd never be able to get out, because he wanted so much for her to know and feel how he did. But here she was confessing that she never could, and that left him feeling... useless? Almost, at the very least lacking to a great degree that felt close to being no good for her.
It was an old feeling, one he carried a long time before when he decided he'd been no good for Starla, and it hurt.
The only thing that helped the feeling was her saying she was happy with at least part of her life here, and that she did wish she could belong. It gave him a small bit of hope to hang onto.
"I'm no hero," he said softly, closing his eyes. "I did what I had to because it's my job. It was my responsibility."
There hadn't been anyone else. And after, he'd ignored the lingering shadows of worry that it wasn't over in favor of focusing on the relief that he'd done it.
Looking at her, he shook his head. "If I feel like there's somethin' more, like someday there's gonna be another call it's only because that's my job, too. But I don't let it run me, or ruin the life I'm tryin' to live right now."
The weight of the badge was heavy, and some days it was harder to shoulder than others, but it was a weight he could bear.
"I am proud of you, Clarice. For how far you've come, for everything you've done for us here. I just wish you could be done, too." He gave her a sad smile, and he was finished arguing about it.
"I don't think you're an idiot, though. An' I know this is somethin' important to you, so I'll be there." And any more worry or protests he had he'd keep to himself.