[ for a moment, it terrifies him — not her, but the prospect of cutting her down. the realization that he could and would if he had to, that regardless of his circumstances, he would forever be a man tainted to the core.
but then she speaks. she speaks, and he hears the voice of a 16 year old, unbearably energetic, his voice booming and ricocheting against the walls around him.
kaine! don't you dare give up now! you're stronger than that!
even if you can't live for yourself, live for me!
those were the words of a boy who hadn't lost his reason for living. who hadn't watched the world crumble into nothingness, who hadn't taken countless lives, who hadn't seen the worst of human beings...hah, no, they weren't even human beings. they were shells. vessels for another peoples entirely. the words of a boy who hadn't realized he was never meant to live...only forfeit what he thought was his to someone else, simply because they had existed before he did.
everything was a lie. everyone was dead. he was the one who ended the world, but only because someone else was going to do it regardless.
but he looks at her, and he sees the eyes of that 16 year old boy. ]
....
[ his brows knit together. his features are hard. but he does meet her gaze, thinking all the while. ]
...Tch.
[ the noise that escapes him is gruff, as is the way his voice lowers a register. ]
Fine. I'll take it.
[ his eyes squeeze shut. ]
...You're right. People laid down their lives to see me at peace...I want to live in their honor, if not for myself. That's the least I could do.
[ ... ]
I can't make any promises, but I'll try to be more careful. Fighting is what I do. Nothing'll change that. But I guess...
[ nier rolls his shoulders, a sigh escaping him. ]
I'll be less reckless from now on. You're a good person. I know you'll get upset if I don't.
[ ... ]
Thank you. I mean it. I still don't know why I'm here — but I don't need to know the reason when being here has managed to get me a friend in you.
no subject
but then she speaks. she speaks, and he hears the voice of a 16 year old, unbearably energetic, his voice booming and ricocheting against the walls around him.
kaine! don't you dare give up now! you're stronger than that!
even if you can't live for yourself, live for me!
those were the words of a boy who hadn't lost his reason for living. who hadn't watched the world crumble into nothingness, who hadn't taken countless lives, who hadn't seen the worst of human beings...hah, no, they weren't even human beings. they were shells. vessels for another peoples entirely. the words of a boy who hadn't realized he was never meant to live...only forfeit what he thought was his to someone else, simply because they had existed before he did.
everything was a lie. everyone was dead. he was the one who ended the world, but only because someone else was going to do it regardless.
but he looks at her, and he sees the eyes of that 16 year old boy. ]
....
[ his brows knit together. his features are hard. but he does meet her gaze, thinking all the while. ]
...Tch.
[ the noise that escapes him is gruff, as is the way his voice lowers a register. ]
Fine. I'll take it.
[ his eyes squeeze shut. ]
...You're right. People laid down their lives to see me at peace...I want to live in their honor, if not for myself. That's the least I could do.
[ ... ]
I can't make any promises, but I'll try to be more careful. Fighting is what I do. Nothing'll change that. But I guess...
[ nier rolls his shoulders, a sigh escaping him. ]
I'll be less reckless from now on. You're a good person. I know you'll get upset if I don't.
[ ... ]
Thank you. I mean it. I still don't know why I'm here — but I don't need to know the reason when being here has managed to get me a friend in you.