[ Even through the haze of his own unhappiness, Ned notices a pattern developing, in Jesse's refusal to say Ghoul's name. He can't blame him, but it still hurts to notice, to realize how frightened and upset he must still be. Ned tells himself that the least he can do is try to be here for Jesse in the future. Try to help him feel safe, to make him safe. ]
[ From the sound of Jesse' pep talk, measured as his voice is, Ned can tell he knows what he's talking about. Apparently this is another thing the two of them have in common. Ned's seen rock bottom - or some version of it - and he knows how long that climb can take. In a way, he is still climbing it. That's his problem. But if not blaming himself is what Jesse wants... the least he can do is try. ]
Okay.
[ After the incident with Daneel, Ned is even more on his guard than usual; when Jesse leans in to kiss his head, he spots the movement out of the corner of his eye. He jerks away in time to avoid the contact, but he doesn't do it all that subtly. It startles a soft, involuntary, and undeniably frightened gasp out of him: the kind you'd expect from someone who looks down to spot a snake slithering inches away from their bare foot. The motion carries him out of Jesse's grip entirely and he shudders, hands clenching into fists at his side. ]
[ Ned knows how obvious his recoil was, but he insists on pretending that nothing happening, saying with utterly transparent lightness ] We should keep walking. [ He needs to get Jesse back home, back to his real friends who can comfort him without making spectacles out of themselves. ]
no subject
[ From the sound of Jesse' pep talk, measured as his voice is, Ned can tell he knows what he's talking about. Apparently this is another thing the two of them have in common. Ned's seen rock bottom - or some version of it - and he knows how long that climb can take. In a way, he is still climbing it. That's his problem. But if not blaming himself is what Jesse wants... the least he can do is try. ]
Okay.
[ After the incident with Daneel, Ned is even more on his guard than usual; when Jesse leans in to kiss his head, he spots the movement out of the corner of his eye. He jerks away in time to avoid the contact, but he doesn't do it all that subtly. It startles a soft, involuntary, and undeniably frightened gasp out of him: the kind you'd expect from someone who looks down to spot a snake slithering inches away from their bare foot. The motion carries him out of Jesse's grip entirely and he shudders, hands clenching into fists at his side. ]
[ Ned knows how obvious his recoil was, but he insists on pretending that nothing happening, saying with utterly transparent lightness ] We should keep walking. [ He needs to get Jesse back home, back to his real friends who can comfort him without making spectacles out of themselves. ]