imeeji_frontstage | (no subject)

It was basically a battle to survive, wasn't it?

And you had to do it for both of you.

Dunno that I did that great at it...

You kept the both of you alive when you were what, nine?

...something like that.

Then you did more than great. There's probably adults who would've done worse than you at something like that.

I mean...there was a whole city of em.

[He remembers the bodies,]

That don't mean I did good, though.

For one thing, you shouldn't have been supporting to lives at the age of nine. That should have been your mother's job, and she failed to do it.

You're the one who did it. You managed to make sure the both of you survived against all odds.

That's a good job.

I mean... is it, though?

It was real rough for a while there.

Would you expect other nine year olds to be able to singlehandedly preserve their parent's life and their own in a city where food and supplies had run dry?

I mean.

People can do a lot, when it comes right down to it.

...You have high standards for nine year olds.

I wouldn't wish it on no one, but if I could pull it off, other people probly did, too.

But you shouldn't have had to, and the fact that you managed it at all is admirable - even if a hundred, or even a thousand nine year olds did.

That situation wasn't normal. You shouldn't have been caring for an adult, trying to scrounge up food in a situation where resources were increasingly unavailable and the people around you were hostile enough to try to kill you.

Being in that situation at all means that people failed you. Failed to take care of you, failed to watch over you, failed to protect you.

Not the other way around.

[He opens his mouth, like he means to respond, but nothing comes out]

[After a beat, and then another, he takes a shaky breath in - tries again]

...she was doing her best.

[Turning to him, cupping his face with his hand.]

And so were you.

[He trembles, a little - tilts his head into Izanagi's palm]

...yeah.

I was -

I was trying real hard.

Edited 2022-03-14 18:26 (UTC)

And that's enough.

It was always enough.

[He brushes a thumb along Hurricane's cheek.]

You don't have to give up everything you have to satisfy others. I don't- want you to do that, either. If you just keep giving and giving and giving, there won't be anything left for you, you know?

So give some. But make sure to take, too.

Give what you can to help others. But take help when it's offered - and if it isn't, ask.

You said I didn't deserve to go through what I did, but neither did you. If I deserved better... if I deserved help-

Then so do you.

[He isn't quite meeting Iznaagi's eyes - can't seem to work up the courage]

Do you, like -

[His voice breaks. He swallows - takes a shaky breath in, and lets it out. Tries again]

Do you really think that?

Yeah, I do.

[Almost immediately, warm.]

I want to see what you're like when you feel like you're allowed to want, or be upset or angry or frustrated. What you're like when you're comfortable enough being you so I can know it all.

[He's quiet for a long few moments - swallows, with effort]

...Hizumi?

What is it?

...c'mere?

[He opens his arms a little, almost hesitant]

[Scoots over - into his arms, wrapping his own around Hurricane, tight.]

[His arms come up around Izanagi right away - hold tight, if not entirely steady]

[One hand rests on his back, providing a steadiness. The other hand curls in his hair, gently petting him, comforting.]

...You shouldn't have had to. But I'm glad you tried hard back then.

I'm glad you lived through it.

...I'm glad I met you, Hurricane.