Midoriya outlines his plan and the reasoning behind it, and some of the gathered tension subsides in Paul once more. He expected no less than careful thoughtfulness, but he wasn't sure how much experience Midoriya has had with keeping secrets.
(And why does his relief that the answer seems to be 'a meaningful amount' come tinged with with regret? Maybe it's because lying doesn't seem to rest easy on his friend's shoulders, even with the excuse of necessity - but then, why does Paul see that as anything but a weakness Midoriya hasn't overcome? He'll think about it later.)
"I know you wouldn't let anything get in the way of that," he says, because he knows how important Midoriya's chosen path is to him, and it hardly ever hurts anything to validate someone's passion. It also hardly ever hurts to let someone know what you admire about them, your tone shaded with respect that's only faintly wistful. It's admirable; it's the greatest threat to Midoriya's safety, and these are the competing facts that Paul must reconcile for himself.
"Consider the favor granted. Your secrets are my own." Paul touches his lips with two fingers, then drops his hand to curl over his heart before it returns to cradling his cup.
"...and if there's anything else you think I might be able to help you with in this situation, or any other," Paul says, quietly, to his tea, "I hope you know I wouldn't let anything get in the way of that."
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(And why does his relief that the answer seems to be 'a meaningful amount' come tinged with with regret? Maybe it's because lying doesn't seem to rest easy on his friend's shoulders, even with the excuse of necessity - but then, why does Paul see that as anything but a weakness Midoriya hasn't overcome? He'll think about it later.)
"I know you wouldn't let anything get in the way of that," he says, because he knows how important Midoriya's chosen path is to him, and it hardly ever hurts anything to validate someone's passion. It also hardly ever hurts to let someone know what you admire about them, your tone shaded with respect that's only faintly wistful. It's admirable; it's the greatest threat to Midoriya's safety, and these are the competing facts that Paul must reconcile for himself.
"Consider the favor granted. Your secrets are my own." Paul touches his lips with two fingers, then drops his hand to curl over his heart before it returns to cradling his cup.
"...and if there's anything else you think I might be able to help you with in this situation, or any other," Paul says, quietly, to his tea, "I hope you know I wouldn't let anything get in the way of that."