[ He could scream if he wanted to. It wouldn't be the first time a teenager took out their frustration on him.
Bradley is a bandit, a criminal, and a convict. His list of crimes goes on and on. The greater good? That's not something he ever had the luxury to think about when he was young.
It's always been "me and mine". But "mine" is an ever expanding thing.
He'd like to say what he thinks that means. He can't chance it with what happened today. Not when the worry Adora might not even show up here is gnawing at him. ]
[The smile makes him feel a little silly. Not in a bad way. It just feels like the smile an adult gives you when you both know you've been a big dumb.]
I know... Before... I probably would have considered it.
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Bradley is a bandit, a criminal, and a convict. His list of crimes goes on and on. The greater good? That's not something he ever had the luxury to think about when he was young.
It's always been "me and mine". But "mine" is an ever expanding thing.
He'd like to say what he thinks that means. He can't chance it with what happened today. Not when the worry Adora might not even show up here is gnawing at him. ]
Did you have support then?
[ It's worse alone. Everything is. ]
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Some guilt rises up out of him. His brows pinch, and he looks anywhere but at Bradley.]
Yes and no. I did, but... I pushed it away. I wanted to do everything on my own. At first because I thought I was better.
And then later... because I was ashamed.
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He won't force Riku to look at him.]
Learned from it, right?
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Finally, he glances back up.]
...Yeah. I hope so.
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Good.
Magic can't change the past, no matter how bad we want it. But if you want to change, ya got time.
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I know... Before... I probably would have considered it.
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Tryin' to use magic to change the past?
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Just... changing the past in general.
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[ The tiniest pang of betrayal.
A small shrug of his shoulders. ]
's better to learn and move forward.
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You're right.
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Ya can ask, if you're interested.
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The memory I saw before...?
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Bradley, however, clearly still loves this man, even if there's an edge of complication there.]
Yeah. When we were younger I didn't understand what he meant. Nero didn't understand how special he was to me.
[It's not resentment, just resignment. The past is an unchanging thing. Change... for the better. Or try to.]
So he chose what felt like his only option.
[Get Bradley caught, send him to prison. He can't die if he's there, right?]
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He looks away.]
Are you mad?
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He did not.]
Nah. Can't be mad at him for doin' what he thought was right.
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Even if... it was something that hurt you?
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He's not. There's nothing here but love and affection.]
I hurt him a lot, without meanin' to.
[This is fair, isn't it? A hurt for a hurt.]
He was just... worried, in the end.
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I get it.
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No wonder I ended up in yer dorm.
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[Even though Bradley is almost a strange outlier.
Sometimes you're a soft criminal.]
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Go rest. Been a long ass weekend.
Just wanted to check in on ya after all of that.
[ His emotions are probably a little less chaotic than Fall as a whole. Just fond protectiveness now. ]
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I know.
[The worst part of being tired is after all the adrenaline has worn off. Like right now.]
Thanks, Bradley. I'll be okay.