"You suggested it as a temporary measure," J counters. At the time, he really believed that was all it would be. It was better in the early days, he agrees. When he was newly arrived, still recovering from months of delusion and self-neglect, he didn't have the wherewithal to handle it. Even then, though, he thought there would be an end to this. "I thought it would be temporary. I needed time, and I've had time, Sihyun-ah."
Now that they're talking about it, he can't help the knot of stubbornness in his chest, the desire to undo what he screwed up. It was selfish, he knows it was, to put this off. Maybe they wouldn't be upset if he'd brought it up sooner. Maybe there wouldn't have been any need for S to keep his appointments secret. And, anyway, he means it emphatically, jaw set even as he continues to stroke soft circles against S's back. S has learned to live with the scars on his arm. J's never had the same opportunity. He's gotten to this point in his existence largely because of that stubbornness. He's gotten into a lot of trouble because of it, too, but he wants to trust that won't be true now. If S really doesn't want to change this, he'll have to accept that, but he won't let it be just because of him.
"I want to see you," he murmurs, "all of you." He'll never entirely get past what he did, he's sure of that, but he's learned to accept that he can't change it — most of the time at least — and to cope with the fact he did it to begin with. On his better days, he knows he was a different person in that moment, not at all lucid or rational, and that he's in better control of himself now, that S is right about J having also helped him that night. If anything, now, intent on getting this if he's permitted it, he's all the more defiant in telling himself these things. He won't hurt S again, not like that, and he won't hurt himself, not if he's prepared this time. Worrying at his lip briefly, he then adds what occurs to him next. "They wouldn't be there if you hadn't survived. Not like that. In that way, isn't it a good thing that I could see them so well? Mine were already faded and healed when I came here, like magic."
no subject
Now that they're talking about it, he can't help the knot of stubbornness in his chest, the desire to undo what he screwed up. It was selfish, he knows it was, to put this off. Maybe they wouldn't be upset if he'd brought it up sooner. Maybe there wouldn't have been any need for S to keep his appointments secret. And, anyway, he means it emphatically, jaw set even as he continues to stroke soft circles against S's back. S has learned to live with the scars on his arm. J's never had the same opportunity. He's gotten to this point in his existence largely because of that stubbornness. He's gotten into a lot of trouble because of it, too, but he wants to trust that won't be true now. If S really doesn't want to change this, he'll have to accept that, but he won't let it be just because of him.
"I want to see you," he murmurs, "all of you." He'll never entirely get past what he did, he's sure of that, but he's learned to accept that he can't change it — most of the time at least — and to cope with the fact he did it to begin with. On his better days, he knows he was a different person in that moment, not at all lucid or rational, and that he's in better control of himself now, that S is right about J having also helped him that night. If anything, now, intent on getting this if he's permitted it, he's all the more defiant in telling himself these things. He won't hurt S again, not like that, and he won't hurt himself, not if he's prepared this time. Worrying at his lip briefly, he then adds what occurs to him next. "They wouldn't be there if you hadn't survived. Not like that. In that way, isn't it a good thing that I could see them so well? Mine were already faded and healed when I came here, like magic."