"'For however long it lasted'?" He smiles a little, but it's not really amused. Strike -- three? four? five? to Caffrey. "Do you really think I would have asked if I didn't want you? In another world. Another life."
It's brutally ironic, the choice of words, the way it's just like what he and Sarah said to each other. "I know what happens when you're asleep, how loud and how frightening it can be. I know how hard you work to stay balanced every single day."
He rubs his eyes and straightens up. "I know how hard you try with everyone you meet, no matter how many times you get mistreated for the effort. I know how much you love people and how much you want to protect them. How much you care about helping them. How much you hate predators, how little mercy you have for abuse. How beautiful your smile is and the way your face lights up when you get to talk about something that interests you and nobody interrupts."
A little snort of a laugh, and he shakes his head. "Do you really think I would have exposed myself enough to ask if I didn't really want to know?"
He comes around the island to Malcolm's side, putting an arm around his shoulders and drawing him close to kiss his temple. "Anyway, congratulations, Bright. I'm glad it worked the way you hoped it would. And remember, no matter what they're used to, it's your life, your mind. You don't have to hunt if you don't want to hunt. You don't have to hurt anything just because it's what they're comfortable doing."
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It's brutally ironic, the choice of words, the way it's just like what he and Sarah said to each other. "I know what happens when you're asleep, how loud and how frightening it can be. I know how hard you work to stay balanced every single day."
He rubs his eyes and straightens up. "I know how hard you try with everyone you meet, no matter how many times you get mistreated for the effort. I know how much you love people and how much you want to protect them. How much you care about helping them. How much you hate predators, how little mercy you have for abuse. How beautiful your smile is and the way your face lights up when you get to talk about something that interests you and nobody interrupts."
A little snort of a laugh, and he shakes his head. "Do you really think I would have exposed myself enough to ask if I didn't really want to know?"
He comes around the island to Malcolm's side, putting an arm around his shoulders and drawing him close to kiss his temple. "Anyway, congratulations, Bright. I'm glad it worked the way you hoped it would. And remember, no matter what they're used to, it's your life, your mind. You don't have to hunt if you don't want to hunt. You don't have to hurt anything just because it's what they're comfortable doing."