[ He doesn't take any joy in it, seeing the pain in the hunch of his brother's shoulders, how tired and tense he looks. But all of that had happened. It is weighing on Diego, even if they don't name it all. And Ben believes there is value in laying it all out, individually. It is like Diego has been punched over and over, in exactly the same place, so it seems to a casual observer that there is only one bruise. But it is twelve bruises, all on top of one another, bleeding into one another. Not one injury, but many, stacked up, relentlessly.
And finally, Diego starts talking about something real. It's progress, as he admits to how he can't bear to be around Patch now, and that his attempts to connect with her have been difficult. But then he's stopping himself, censoring and backpedaling. ]
- Diego.
[ Ben had always been careful not to interrupt Diego, back when he was still alive. He doesn't intend to make it a habit now, either, but he does it this once, purposefully. ]
Trust me. You should.
[ He puts all the conviction he can into it. He won't let Diego use his supposed fragility as an excuse. Ben waits to meet his brother's eyes, and there is no distress, no anxiety or worry in his expression stirred up by talking about death.
And there is precedent for this, too. That sometimes, the best thing Ben could offer to Diego was his calm. His ability to absorb all that chaos and not get worked up, himself. Quietly, Ben encourages: ]
no subject
And finally, Diego starts talking about something real. It's progress, as he admits to how he can't bear to be around Patch now, and that his attempts to connect with her have been difficult. But then he's stopping himself, censoring and backpedaling. ]
- Diego.
[ Ben had always been careful not to interrupt Diego, back when he was still alive. He doesn't intend to make it a habit now, either, but he does it this once, purposefully. ]
Trust me. You should.
[ He puts all the conviction he can into it. He won't let Diego use his supposed fragility as an excuse. Ben waits to meet his brother's eyes, and there is no distress, no anxiety or worry in his expression stirred up by talking about death.
And there is precedent for this, too. That sometimes, the best thing Ben could offer to Diego was his calm. His ability to absorb all that chaos and not get worked up, himself. Quietly, Ben encourages: ]
Talk to me.