and Sanji knows he should panic, sharing this much, when Jae-Ha could easily be someone the Crafters have in their pocket, but he
doesn't
care
he's so fuckin tired]
Some shitheads here have objectives. His is to protect me. If I die, he dies. No second chances.
... I knew it, and still got it in my head to check the maze for clues. Poor bastard didn't really have a choice but to make sure I came out alive.
[Does Jae-Ha fuckin get it now? Zelos is his babysitter, and not even of his own free will. And Sanji... ignored what that meant until the bastard lost an eye for it.]
[Jae-ha pauses as he finishes up the last of bandaging up Sanji's injury - and he moves to reach out and mess up his hair.]
.... you're still so full of bullshit.
Even if I tell you that's not true, would you even listen to me? Or would you just be so stuck on what you think is real that you blind yourself to everything else?
You said that I know Zelos better than anybody - which is wrong to begin with - but now you're gonna doubt me when I've spent just as much time watching you?
[If not more.]
If you don't have more faith in him, he'll be able to tell, you know. He's not going to be the one to believe in your partnership first.
[Nodding along, it almost seems as if Sanji is taking Jae-Ha's words to heart.
He is, in a sense.
This has nothing to do with Sanji's hang ups, after all -- it's about Zelos and causing him the least amount of grief during this partnership. If that means bolstering the other's sense of self-worth, then Sanji will suffer any backlash.
It's the least he can do, for everything.]
Alright. [Giving in without a fight.] I'll keep it in mind.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[it just
fuckin slips out
and Sanji knows he should panic, sharing this much, when Jae-Ha could easily be someone the Crafters have in their pocket, but he
doesn't
care
he's so fuckin tired]
Some shitheads here have objectives. His is to protect me. If I die, he dies. No second chances.
... I knew it, and still got it in my head to check the maze for clues. Poor bastard didn't really have a choice but to make sure I came out alive.
[Does Jae-Ha fuckin get it now? Zelos is his babysitter, and not even of his own free will. And Sanji... ignored what that meant until the bastard lost an eye for it.]
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Jae-ha's quiet at that for a long moment and his brow furrows.]
... so you think he resents you for it?
For all of it - the maze, the fact that you're attached together....
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To him, the answer is simple and obvious.
And it's fine.
Because Sanji accepts it without any hurt attached. He doesn't get to whine when it's his fault.]
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.... you're still so full of bullshit.
Even if I tell you that's not true, would you even listen to me? Or would you just be so stuck on what you think is real that you blind yourself to everything else?
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Tch! And what makes you so fuckin sure?
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You said that I know Zelos better than anybody - which is wrong to begin with - but now you're gonna doubt me when I've spent just as much time watching you?
[If not more.]
If you don't have more faith in him, he'll be able to tell, you know. He's not going to be the one to believe in your partnership first.
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Or perhaps reminiscing]
... He would be able to tell, yeah.
[Zelos is as skittish as a horse, and for reasons Sanji can't blame him for.]
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[Jae-ha sighs.]
It won't mean anything if I tell him he's not - I already have. He probably thinks I'm an idiot who doesn't know what I'm talking about.
... but you can't let him know that you think he's here out of obligation, and not because he's a good person.
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He is, in a sense.
This has nothing to do with Sanji's hang ups, after all -- it's about Zelos and causing him the least amount of grief during this partnership. If that means bolstering the other's sense of self-worth, then Sanji will suffer any backlash.
It's the least he can do, for everything.]
Alright. [Giving in without a fight.] I'll keep it in mind.
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Good.
And I won't tell Zelos what you told me - and you shouldn't let him know that I know.
He hates it when I know things about him.
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[Just nuke them both. Sanji can guarantee it, and starts to chuckle softly.]
I'll keep it to myself.
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[ - but he notes it with a laugh, bringing the food over for Sanji to eat.]
But here - you still owe me some taste testing.
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[The moment he spots the food, Sanji favors Jae-Ha with an unguarded smile]
Thanks, I appreciate it.
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Jae-ha offers a smile back - and he'll willingly wait for Sanji's critique, whatever it may be.
But he thinks again.
This expression of Sanji's is really -
His favorite.]