The Family [Finished]

[yamikuronue]

"I tried. I guess not hard enough." he whispers.

[accalia]

"I'm sure you tried." Bear says calmly "Could. You. have. actually. stopped. him?" this time Bear asks the question slowly, clearly wanting Vic to think about the answer instead of just parroting the answer that is already in his head.

[yamikuronue]

Vic drops his gaze to his lap, fighting off tears. "I-- I don't know. I keep thinking I could have, if I tried harder. If I was good enough. If I wasn't so useless. But.. I tried as hard as I knew how to. So I guess... I guess the answer is no."

[accalia]

"Then Tony did a thing he wanted to to help you, even though he knew he could have gotten hurt, and he got hurt doing it.... and you blame yourself? That's... That's actually pretty cruel of you you know." Bear says sadly "By blaming yourself for Tony's actions you rob him of his agency. You take the sacrifice he made for you, a gift he gave you without question if i know him, and turn it into your failure."

[yamikuronue]

"I didn't want it," he whispers. "My life isn't worth his. I don't want him to die for me. But he seems determined to."

[accalia]

"So like a parent, to protect their child without thought of their own flesh." Bear murmurs "So like a child to wish for their parents to not protect them if it causes harm."

[yamikuronue]

Vic flushes. "He's not my dad."

[accalia]

"But he is family, right?"

[yamikuronue]

"I... yeah. Family. I guess he can be like... I guess..." Vic goes quiet for a long minute. "I guess parent is how he sees me. Like I'm his responsibility, and he's going to protect me no matter what."

[accalia]

"That sounds like you're projecting on him." Bear comments "You might want to talk to him about this before too long. You might be surprised at how he things of the matter."

[yamikuronue]

"Fair." He swallows, then adds, "I made a huge mistake, though. I... I kissed him."

[accalia]

That got a raised eyebrow from Bear. "well, that's.... that's an interesting story."

[yamikuronue]

Vic blushes. "I'm sorry. It was a mistake."

[accalia]

"You're not going to tease me with a story like that and then not share it with me are you? for shame!" Bear teases, in much the same way as Tony might.

[yamikuronue]

Vic looks at his lap. "He was... so kind to me. I was... he is... he's such a good man. I want someone like that. Someone I can .... be myself around. So I kissed him. And he kissed back, but then he was so shocked and... it was clear he didn't want it. So I ran off. Now I'm someone who doesn't kiss men."