[ Maybe Daniel did expect Robby to back off. Not out of any unkindness on Robby's end, but-- he knows the boy is guarded in some ways, and Daniel truly doesn't want to make this awkward on him. It's the last thing he ever wanted to do with what he told Robby back then. He just wanted to be open, to prevent later potential hurt. And with the other never bringing it up again, it was easy to assume the best solution here was to just sidestep the topic entirely.
Except that's not what Robby does here. Instead he addresses it directly. Very directly, especially as he speaks on more and more.
In a way Daniel is momentarily unsure of. After all - does it sound strange? Maybe a little, especially since the way Daniel put his feelings into words was a little more neat, if not a little awkward because of the associations with that term on Robby's end.
But as he finally turns his head to properly look at Robby.. Maybe he understands it a little, he thinks. After all, Daniel presented the feelings as fatherly, but.. what would Robby know about those? Granted, it's not like Daniel ever had the best idea either when his father died so young, when he had to grasp onto the remainders of fading memories, of stories from his mother, of old photographs. But he had a present and loving father, even if it was just for a little while. Robby, in comparison-- how would he know what it's like when someone has fatherly feelings for you? Is it someone who doesn't try for you most of the time? Who starts to try, and then keeps failing? It's not exactly the most positive of connotations.
Maybe that's why the boy is putting it like this. Isn't it the same way Daniel may have described what mister Miyagi was to him, when the word 'father' doesn't really feel like it encompasses everything there either? Something more than a sensei, someone who's more special than anyone else.
(Though, with the kind of person Daniel is, the idea of anyone viewing him the way he viewed mister Miyagi feels.. impossible, almost. Because it's only natural that he viewed mister Miyagi that way, a man who was so amazing, so good, but Daniel-- he's not that in comparison. Not by a long shot.)
All the thoughts moving through his mind means he's quiet for a few moments, like he truly needs a moment in his own mind to process all of this, even as he's already looking at Robby. His teeth dig into his lower lip for a moment, thinking, but then he slowly shakes his head as an answer. ]
No. I.. know it's hard to sometimes put these sorts of things into words.
[ Even if there's a huge part of what Robby is trying to convey here that is flying right over Daniel's head. He has no idea. ]
And I understand the whole "dad" thing is.. complicated to you. [ TO SAY THE LEAST.. Thanks, Johnny. ] I'm not sure if I could've put it into words any better either when it comes to mister Miyagi.
[ He smiles faintly at Robby, something almost apologetic in its edges, not realising he's actually not fully understanding it here at all.
He slowly inhales and then exhales, managing to find the words that feel right. ]
I just want to be someone who's good to you. [ It's.. well, it's true, but it does leave out the fact that Daniel wants to be special to Robby. That the other implying he is actually lights something up inside of his chest. His desire to see Robby happy may be selfless in nature, something he'd do even if the other didn't feel this way about him, but it's not like he doesn't like this, doesn't want this. ] So if I make you feel safe.. I'm very glad for that. That's all I want to do.
[ Especially in this place, and with how determined it seems to try and break Robby down. ]
.. I guess I just got a little jealous of your father back there.
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Except that's not what Robby does here. Instead he addresses it directly. Very directly, especially as he speaks on more and more.
In a way Daniel is momentarily unsure of. After all - does it sound strange? Maybe a little, especially since the way Daniel put his feelings into words was a little more neat, if not a little awkward because of the associations with that term on Robby's end.
But as he finally turns his head to properly look at Robby.. Maybe he understands it a little, he thinks. After all, Daniel presented the feelings as fatherly, but.. what would Robby know about those? Granted, it's not like Daniel ever had the best idea either when his father died so young, when he had to grasp onto the remainders of fading memories, of stories from his mother, of old photographs. But he had a present and loving father, even if it was just for a little while. Robby, in comparison-- how would he know what it's like when someone has fatherly feelings for you? Is it someone who doesn't try for you most of the time? Who starts to try, and then keeps failing? It's not exactly the most positive of connotations.
Maybe that's why the boy is putting it like this. Isn't it the same way Daniel may have described what mister Miyagi was to him, when the word 'father' doesn't really feel like it encompasses everything there either? Something more than a sensei, someone who's more special than anyone else.
(Though, with the kind of person Daniel is, the idea of anyone viewing him the way he viewed mister Miyagi feels.. impossible, almost. Because it's only natural that he viewed mister Miyagi that way, a man who was so amazing, so good, but Daniel-- he's not that in comparison. Not by a long shot.)
All the thoughts moving through his mind means he's quiet for a few moments, like he truly needs a moment in his own mind to process all of this, even as he's already looking at Robby. His teeth dig into his lower lip for a moment, thinking, but then he slowly shakes his head as an answer. ]
No. I.. know it's hard to sometimes put these sorts of things into words.
[ Even if there's a huge part of what Robby is trying to convey here that is flying right over Daniel's head. He has no idea. ]
And I understand the whole "dad" thing is.. complicated to you. [ TO SAY THE LEAST.. Thanks, Johnny. ] I'm not sure if I could've put it into words any better either when it comes to mister Miyagi.
[ He smiles faintly at Robby, something almost apologetic in its edges, not realising he's actually not fully understanding it here at all.
He slowly inhales and then exhales, managing to find the words that feel right. ]
I just want to be someone who's good to you. [ It's.. well, it's true, but it does leave out the fact that Daniel wants to be special to Robby. That the other implying he is actually lights something up inside of his chest. His desire to see Robby happy may be selfless in nature, something he'd do even if the other didn't feel this way about him, but it's not like he doesn't like this, doesn't want this. ] So if I make you feel safe.. I'm very glad for that. That's all I want to do.
[ Especially in this place, and with how determined it seems to try and break Robby down. ]
.. I guess I just got a little jealous of your father back there.