[He knows what that means: discussion over. So he respects that, and he follows without another word, even as his mind is churning.
She shouldn't have to shoulder this by herself, whatever she's dealing with. It doesn't have to be him, but someone. She has so many people who care, there has to be at least one she can trust.
He had been kept here for two weeks. Shepard had been here for over six. This must be affecting her deeply. She has to be struggling.
She has to be, because the alternative is that the problem is with him, yet again. That he's so much weaker to this. He needs to know that he's not the only one feeling short of breath turning every corner, hearing echoes of remembered words as he walks down the halls, spending every moment wondering if he'd ever really left at all.
As much as the sentiment comes from empathy, there's also a selfishness to it: if she shows weakness, then maybe it's okay that he's been so weak. If Shepard is broken, then maybe it's not so terrible that he is, too.]
no subject
She shouldn't have to shoulder this by herself, whatever she's dealing with. It doesn't have to be him, but someone. She has so many people who care, there has to be at least one she can trust.
He had been kept here for two weeks. Shepard had been here for over six. This must be affecting her deeply. She has to be struggling.
She has to be, because the alternative is that the problem is with him, yet again. That he's so much weaker to this. He needs to know that he's not the only one feeling short of breath turning every corner, hearing echoes of remembered words as he walks down the halls, spending every moment wondering if he'd ever really left at all.
As much as the sentiment comes from empathy, there's also a selfishness to it: if she shows weakness, then maybe it's okay that he's been so weak. If Shepard is broken, then maybe it's not so terrible that he is, too.]