SPOILER!!: XD tis mutual
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Tazenhani It was a relief the boy hadn't looked hurt about the laughing, otherwise Sabel's guilty conscience might have kicked in. Might have. Might have realized how much like Damien he was becoming. And then there would have been two unhappy blokes in the barn.
The thought was creeping in, but it was given little time or attention as Toby's words had him thinking down a completely different path. Perhaps it hadn't hurt him. Perhaps it had protected him. And now what? He was offering to undo that protection, in the effort to strengthen it?
Sometimes, oftentimes, he was convinced Auror's shouldn't be in the position to teach students, let alone children.
But Toby wanted his help. His answer had been a 'yes'. Sabel considered that for a moment before nodding slightly. Toby would be graduating soon, no longer a student, no longer a child. Perhaps it was time to start treating him as such.
Turning, he held out his hand to seal the deal in a shake. "Then you have it."
Toby was still totally confused, no doubt about it. He was trying his best not to think about what might have caused that laughter, as he already had the positive thing to focus on, but not knowing was threatening to drive him crazy. He thought about asking, but very quickly decided against it.
Instead he stood there, looking almost pensively at Dakest. He was so lost in thought about that and about other things that at first he didn't notice the proffered hand. Toby eyed it for moment or two, trying to shove aside those feelings of selfishness and of guilt and of greed and everything else, and then eventually took the hand and shook it.
"Okay. Cool. Good," he said, nodding.
"Thanks, I mean. Yeah."
There was a paused, and then another uncertain question. Request for affirmation.
"...................... You're sure, though?"