innermonologues | IC Inbox for Empath

You can protect them in different ways. It's tough seeing people be stronger than you, but it's wonderful too cause they can also keep themselves and others safe. There will always be someone to protect, Squall, it just... may not be in the way we see it at first.

[ Squall just let out another sigh. He wasn't frustrated with Usagi, he was just frustrated with everything. ]

Sorry, probably not something you want to hear, huh?

I don't think anyone is gonna say what you really want to hear though, Squall, cause... well, not being mean but I don't think you know what you want... But no matter what, you don't have to do any of it alone, kay?

All I want... is to be strong enough to protect those I care about. I train every day, I push through any injuries, and it just doesn't help.

We're not stronger alone, Squall.

Edited 2018-08-29 17:23 (UTC)

It's clear that I'm no help to anyone's personal strength either.

I know a couple of people who would say you're wrong.

If I hear Sora's name come out of your mouth I'm going to tell you you're wrong.

I wouldn't be, though.

Sora's strength. His heart. It comes from a lot of people, but the one big focus of his heart comes from Riku. And probably his other friend from home. I have nothing to do with it. In fact I'm probably more of a hindrance.

Mnn... but you'd break his heart if he heard that, you know that, right?

I can't tell you how much you mean to him... [After all, that's how this whole conversation got started, was because of his worry for Squall.] But I can show you.

It might break his heart, but it's a fact. One that no one can deny.

[ Squall lets out another soft sigh..

Mnn...

Do you want to be with Sora, Squall?

[ Without even a second of hesitation. ] Of course I do. That's not even a question.

And Sora wants to be with you.

That's all that actually matters, Squall. Riku may have a lot of his heart, but he wants to be with you. He picked you.

That makes you hold a place in his heart too.

Edited 2018-08-29 18:24 (UTC)

This doesn't have anything to do with that.

[ But Squall. ]

What good am I if I can't even protect him or anyone else from stupid shit like this?

[ But Squall!!! ]

Maybe you can't protect him from anything, Squall, I can't protect him from everything either.

Sometimes we just have to be there to help pick up the pieces when those we love fall apart, and that has to be good enough for us.

If you want to be stronger, Squall, then learn to be good enough for when you can't protect them.

[ He falls silent. It's not that he's upset with her or anything, it's more like he's trying to take in her words. ]

What if there comes a time when the pieces can't be put together anymore?

We become stronger for that, too.

How? How is it possible to become stronger when you can't do anything but be there?

That's how we get stronger, Squall. We be there, sometimes, that's the absolute strongest thing we can do for them.

I guess... I'll just have to take your word for it.

[ He's not writing her words off or anything. It's just... difficult for him to understand. He spent years of his life pushing feelings aside, putting up this huge wall away from people, it's just... difficult to wrap his mind around the fact that just being there might help someone. Him of all people.]

I've had a lot of practice.

Yeah... you seem like you would.

I'll take that as a compliment.

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