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[hostileterritory]

"This is David. Leave a message."

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[hostileterritory]

"I think," he says, soft this time, "it probably is going to take a while."

There, he managed it. "I-"

Another pause, another molten slurry rising in his throat. He clears it to try and make the choked sensation go away. "I'm afraid of-"

Is it okay, to admit it like that, to just say what he's afraid of, even if it's to Saga? It's... off. Wrong. Makes him feel like he's botched an assignment somehow.

"I'm... I guess I wonder if I'm going to be able to do it."

[viking_seer]

"That sounds like a pretty reasonable fear," she says gently, and she watches him to see if he can swallow that. She knows how hard of a time he's having talking about this.

[hostileterritory]

Slow, deep inhale. He breathes out, and says, "Yeah," at the same time so it becomes a whisper.

He licks his lips and tries to stay focused through the mental static of a thousand petty fears. "Yeah, I guess."

Another unsteady breath.

"You know, wasn't in my file, but- I had a tutor in high school. Had a couple but only remember one. Had her for I think it was a science class. Junior year, the year before I joined the army."

He clears his throat softly. Closes his eyes so he can focus on his thoughts. "I just didn't get it, whatever she was trying to show me. Didn't get it, didn't get it, and then one day she broke her pencil in half and said she could teach a dog to read easier than teaching me anything."

A breathy chuckle. Henry can feel his heartbeat like a meaty fist squeezing at the base of his throat. "Pretty sure I failed that class, whatever it was."

[viking_seer]

She can't say she's a fan of that tutor, but she knows it was probably just another kid and kids can only be expected to figure out so much when helping another student. She watches him go through it, tell the story, and she'll let her hand wander gently over his cheek.

"I'm not worried about you failing with this, Henry," she says quietly. "I know you'll make it through this."

A brush or two before-

"And trust me when I say that I look forward to helping you face those challenges. Because I am."

[hostileterritory]

Christ it's a relief to be able to tell Saga a story, however brief, and have her pick the thoughts out of it that he couldn't put into words.

He lifts a hand impulsively to press hers against his cheek. "Have-- Have I thank you? Ever? Because I've thought it plenty, but I don't recall if..."

[viking_seer]

"Probably?"

The question in her voice sounds like she's never thought about it, but she'll clear up a little more a moment later, her hand happily pressed between his and his cheek.

"I've always felt like you were thankful. Glad I was here. But it's not a bad thing to say out loud, to be sure of."