[Funny how there are so many parallels between people's lives, really. A lot of that resonates strongly with one of the memories Soldat got back during the aurora. Steve, all big and strong and healthy now, not needing looked after anymore. Steve, finding another face to look for in a crowd, a pretty dame, smart and capable-looking in her actual military uniform, and all that implies. Yeah, that resonates.
The Sergeant hadn't gone scorched earth on Steve, but the Sergeant had been an adult when that happened. They're pretty sure. The Sergeant had already had at least a year of war, drafted no earlier than nineteen they think, not a stupid teenager thinking he was losing his best friend. Plus, he wasn't exactly going to turn against the people trying to stop the bastards who tortured him.
In another life, back in Brooklyn. Maybe they'd have broken ties, too. (Maybe not like that, but Soldat has always been a protector, even back then.)
So Soldat nods thoughtfully. The possession bit is definitely an escalation, but also not the point of this conversation, and Soldat has probably pried enough. It's probably enough just to line that into the list of parallels and let it be.]
Okay. I understand it better now. Thank you.
[Then, after a pause, they add,]
That's not what's left of you. He remembers you telling him he's still something even without the Keyblade. Which he needs to hear a hell of a lot more. He remembers a throwing you tea party after you slept-- told me trying to cheer me up about Crowley sleeping for two months.
it's cool, it's a complicated subject!
The Sergeant hadn't gone scorched earth on Steve, but the Sergeant had been an adult when that happened. They're pretty sure. The Sergeant had already had at least a year of war, drafted no earlier than nineteen they think, not a stupid teenager thinking he was losing his best friend. Plus, he wasn't exactly going to turn against the people trying to stop the bastards who tortured him.
In another life, back in Brooklyn. Maybe they'd have broken ties, too. (Maybe not like that, but Soldat has always been a protector, even back then.)
So Soldat nods thoughtfully. The possession bit is definitely an escalation, but also not the point of this conversation, and Soldat has probably pried enough. It's probably enough just to line that into the list of parallels and let it be.]
Okay. I understand it better now. Thank you.
[Then, after a pause, they add,]
That's not what's left of you. He remembers you telling him he's still something even without the Keyblade. Which he needs to hear a hell of a lot more. He remembers a throwing you tea party after you slept-- told me trying to cheer me up about Crowley sleeping for two months.
[They shrug a little.]
He still loves you.