[ can't accuse him of being an ineffective communicator. that one thing aside
He sits up a little straighter as Haru starts, looking back at her again. Mark isn't sure how this is going to go, so he starts off attentive, if neutral — hearing Haru out, really listening to her.
And it kills him. He keeps his mouth shut, lets her say her piece. But there's a swirl of feelings welling up inside of him at all of this, fondness and gratitude and a little bit of embarrassment and sorrow and regret and, above all else, a sheer helplessness. It's not like he's blind to the impact he has on people— tries not to be. Sometimes he still is— but hearing all of this, so plainly spoken. That he's done good in his time here, even as he's fighting to ensure he never does bad. That he gave her a moment of happiness, real happiness again.
That he's still a hero, and Mark reaches over to Haru's far side to pull her into a half hug, mindful of her wounds, the peach she still has...
Deep breath, he is not going to cry. ]
Well, you said all of that way better than I could. [ A small, self-deprecating laugh. His voice cracks a little. ] Now I'm not sure what to say...
[ He looks out the barn doors, up at the sliver of blue sky they can see from here. ]
... Do me a favour and don't forget that happiness, okay? I think y— we'll need that. Even when everything goes to shit... As long as we've got that then we're still okay, right?
no subject
He sits up a little straighter as Haru starts, looking back at her again. Mark isn't sure how this is going to go, so he starts off attentive, if neutral — hearing Haru out, really listening to her.
And it kills him. He keeps his mouth shut, lets her say her piece. But there's a swirl of feelings welling up inside of him at all of this, fondness and gratitude and a little bit of embarrassment and sorrow and regret and, above all else, a sheer helplessness. It's not like he's blind to the impact he has on people— tries not to be. Sometimes he still is— but hearing all of this, so plainly spoken. That he's done good in his time here, even as he's fighting to ensure he never does bad. That he gave her a moment of happiness, real happiness again.
That he's still a hero, and Mark reaches over to Haru's far side to pull her into a half hug, mindful of her wounds, the peach she still has...
Deep breath, he is not going to cry. ]
Well, you said all of that way better than I could. [ A small, self-deprecating laugh. His voice cracks a little. ] Now I'm not sure what to say...
[ He looks out the barn doors, up at the sliver of blue sky they can see from here. ]
... Do me a favour and don't forget that happiness, okay? I think y— we'll need that. Even when everything goes to shit... As long as we've got that then we're still okay, right?