_{MASON .}

HE  WANTS  THE  HELP,       _{but  he  also  wants  to  convince  himself  and  everyone  around  him  that  he  doesn’t  need  the  CONSTANT  PROTECTION.       it’s  hard,      being  forced  into  the  structure  of  the  perfect  killer  and  yet  somehow,}      coming  out  unscathed   _{——-      yet  it’s  not  that  simple,       his  mind  still  haunted  by  what  he’s  almost  lost.      he  couldn’t  survive  alone;       he  needed  them  to  help  him.       and  by  that,}        he  could  nearly  kill  them  all.        _{he  couldn’t  ALWAYS  rely  on  their  help    —–    sometimes  he  had  to  fend  for  himself.} 

_{but  it’s  clear  he’s  not  getting  anywhere  now,       and  that  she  isn’t  going  to  give  up      (     it’s  refreshing,      knowing  that  she’s  not  the  type  who  WOULD  just  leave.     )      ❛   late  advice,    ❜          he  insists,       a  small  smile  on  his  lips  even  if  he’s  in  pain    —-    he  always  looks  for  reason  to  be  positive.       ❛    okay,}      caught  me.       _{i  didn’t  want  you  to  leave.   ❜        he’s  not  protecting  his  pride  so  much  anyway.        he  lifts  his  shirt  to  reveal  the  wound,      eyes  quickly  darting  away.        ❛    if  you  tell  me  i’m  gonna  be  okay,     i’ll  believe  you.}      i’m  not  difficult  to  convince.  _❜     

         INNATE   BENEVOLENCE   BOUNDS   HIS   BONES .          _{that   much   she   can   tell .          reminds   her   of   who   she’d   once   TRIED   to   be     ;}    hidden   away    _{for safety   though   all   she   strived   for   was   NORMALCY .          LOYALTY .          ability   to   protect   those   she   loved .          to   be  brave   in   the   face   of}    supernatural   war .          _{instead ,   she’d   been   made   a}    WEAPON .

_{teasing   smile   renders   one   of   her   own ,}     INSTANT   RELIEF    _{that   the   pain   isn’t   so   great   he   can’t   muster   a   joke .          ❛     ───     you’re   gonna   be}    FINE   _{.          i   promise .    ❜          sincerity    ^{rings   true}    in   tone ,   crystalline   gaze   wide ,}    serene   _{at   the   state   of   the   injury .          fingertips   stay   steady   at   the   edge   of}     blossomed   wound ,    _{pearl   incisors   pulling   at   bottom   petal   in}     contemplation    _{before   countenance   morphs   to   one   of   realization .         ❛     ───     i   don’t   have   a   spell ,   but   .  .  .   i}     DO    _{have   an   herb .          the   most   i’ve   used   it   on   is   a   swollen   ankle ,   but   it’ll   heal   you   faster   than   waiting   it   out .   ❜}