[there's a part of jyn, even now, that has the impulse to tell him that, no, he doesn't understand. it's that default part of her she presents as an outward face, teeth gnashing and sharp points at the ready, the one that's kept her alive and kept others at such a safe distance away that they wouldn't even imagine coming close. default — and easy.
but even if it's easy, it falters. she could blame the exhaustion, she could blame — well, any other number of things, and if she did, all of them would circle around what they can't come back from.
and so, like she'd known exactly what his question had been about, she can accept that understanding goes both ways. she can meet his gaze, distant as it is, and —]
Maybe, [she can concede. it's soft, and not at all unkind.
(in her mind, she's eight years old again, tucked warmly, safely into bed. carried to sleep by her father pressing a kiss to her forehead, by his whisper: stardust.)
swallowing thickly, she changes track before she's forced to dwell on anything for too long. asks:] What do you dread, though, if it's in the past?
no subject
but even if it's easy, it falters. she could blame the exhaustion, she could blame — well, any other number of things, and if she did, all of them would circle around what they can't come back from.
and so, like she'd known exactly what his question had been about, she can accept that understanding goes both ways. she can meet his gaze, distant as it is, and —]
Maybe, [she can concede. it's soft, and not at all unkind.
(in her mind, she's eight years old again, tucked warmly, safely into bed. carried to sleep by her father pressing a kiss to her forehead, by his whisper: stardust.)
swallowing thickly, she changes track before she's forced to dwell on anything for too long. asks:] What do you dread, though, if it's in the past?