[He steps forward, walking right up behind Ken. Unsure of what to do or to say. Because this...in a way, he brought this upon the house. He demanded Tetsuo stay. He's the one who ran around all of September, getting hurt, dragging everyone in to help with his problem...
He was the one so determined to save one piece of his family, only to lose another.
One more step, and he's right behind Ken, close enough to hear his ragged breathing between holding back a sob. Close enough to put a hand on that shoulder to turn him around. Turn and see the face of a kid who tried so hard to keep Kaneda's family together and sacrifice the one he had for it.
Teeth sink into his chapped lips, biting hard enough to split. He'd failed Ken. He'd failed Tetsuo, too. And Maya, and Bull...
Charlie.
And in that moment, when Ken's voice shoots an octave higher, the pressure of everything weighing down on him like crashing waves...Kaneda's speechless. There's nothing he can say to make this better. All he can do is shake his head at him, dark eyes apologizing in ways words just won't suffice.
Ken -was- there first.
That's when he can only say one thing, his eyes staring right into Ken's, hand gripping that shoulder tightly as he tries to steady his own voice. He had to be the strong one. That's what the older brother does.]
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He was the one so determined to save one piece of his family, only to lose another.
One more step, and he's right behind Ken, close enough to hear his ragged breathing between holding back a sob. Close enough to put a hand on that shoulder to turn him around. Turn and see the face of a kid who tried so hard to keep Kaneda's family together and sacrifice the one he had for it.
Teeth sink into his chapped lips, biting hard enough to split. He'd failed Ken. He'd failed Tetsuo, too. And Maya, and Bull...
Charlie.
And in that moment, when Ken's voice shoots an octave higher, the pressure of everything weighing down on him like crashing waves...Kaneda's speechless. There's nothing he can say to make this better. All he can do is shake his head at him, dark eyes apologizing in ways words just won't suffice.
Ken -was- there first.
That's when he can only say one thing, his eyes staring right into Ken's, hand gripping that shoulder tightly as he tries to steady his own voice. He had to be the strong one. That's what the older brother does.]
You deserve better.