Midoriya briefly meets Paul's eyes to return his sentiment. Midoriya, for his part, thinks it best not to give in to the anger he feels when he thinks of the people who would put needles to either of his friends. It's the directionless sort he's felt before when he's met people like them in Trench--young people his age who were already hurt so much by others--because the perpetrators are not here to atone. Life's not so neat. Hinging closure on another person doesn't always work anyway.
He puts his anger into something he can do. Midoriya firmly believes in choosing a kinder life for oneself, and to encourage a kinder world than the one that hurt the people he knows. Even this one can be kind, if only for its lack of the old dangers.
Seeing Kaworu so--affected, Midoriya feels an odd urge to keep him from flying away. Spice makes him forget he's already got Kaworu's legs anchored. He, too, anchors himself by leaning on his side against the back of the couch, at the risk of making half his curls stand on end later. Belatedly, he's realized he doesn't have to sit up for a portrait anymore.
His brow knits a little with concern, even as he admires the impressive saturation of Kaworu's entire face and neck contrasted against the delicate touch of Paul's fingers.
"I know." He knows Kaworu didn't say it idly. Midoriya has said similar things himself with absolute sincerity, so he knows what it looks like. "Just remember to look out for yourself, okay? You can't protect anyone if you don't protect yourself. That's a difficult lesson to learn the hard way." He rubs his right arm where, under his shirt, the largest scars are. He smiles. "Wouldn't want you to smudge your eyeliner either. You did it so well."
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He puts his anger into something he can do. Midoriya firmly believes in choosing a kinder life for oneself, and to encourage a kinder world than the one that hurt the people he knows. Even this one can be kind, if only for its lack of the old dangers.
Seeing Kaworu so--affected, Midoriya feels an odd urge to keep him from flying away. Spice makes him forget he's already got Kaworu's legs anchored. He, too, anchors himself by leaning on his side against the back of the couch, at the risk of making half his curls stand on end later. Belatedly, he's realized he doesn't have to sit up for a portrait anymore.
His brow knits a little with concern, even as he admires the impressive saturation of Kaworu's entire face and neck contrasted against the delicate touch of Paul's fingers.
"I know." He knows Kaworu didn't say it idly. Midoriya has said similar things himself with absolute sincerity, so he knows what it looks like. "Just remember to look out for yourself, okay? You can't protect anyone if you don't protect yourself. That's a difficult lesson to learn the hard way." He rubs his right arm where, under his shirt, the largest scars are. He smiles. "Wouldn't want you to smudge your eyeliner either. You did it so well."