[ Sebastian studies her for a long pause before he speaks. ]
I'm sorry.
[ He leaves the words there for a moment; they're different from the usual 'my apologies,' maybe more sincere, definitely more candid. ]
I'm... not sure what it is that's made it so difficult for me to recognize that you and I are the same, but I understand it now. You are, just as I am, a guardian.
... I require no assistance in looking after Ciel. As weak as this place has made me — [ there's a harshness in his voice; a bitterness ] — I am still more than capable of defending him, and he grows... more capable by the day, himself. [ His voice goes quieter, unhappy for just a brief moment. ]
But I can hardly object to your help, either. He is your friend, which is more than I can say about him. One might argue that you have more of a moral right to protect him than I do.
... But he belongs to me. [ There's no flash of pigeon's-blood, but his eyes are sharp when he looks up at her. ] He won't let you protect him from me, but if you can live with that, then you can protect him from everything else.
no subject
[ Sebastian studies her for a long pause before he speaks. ]
I'm sorry.
[ He leaves the words there for a moment; they're different from the usual 'my apologies,' maybe more sincere, definitely more candid. ]
I'm... not sure what it is that's made it so difficult for me to recognize that you and I are the same, but I understand it now. You are, just as I am, a guardian.
... I require no assistance in looking after Ciel. As weak as this place has made me — [ there's a harshness in his voice; a bitterness ] — I am still more than capable of defending him, and he grows... more capable by the day, himself. [ His voice goes quieter, unhappy for just a brief moment. ]
But I can hardly object to your help, either. He is your friend, which is more than I can say about him. One might argue that you have more of a moral right to protect him than I do.
... But he belongs to me. [ There's no flash of pigeon's-blood, but his eyes are sharp when he looks up at her. ] He won't let you protect him from me, but if you can live with that, then you can protect him from everything else.