[He jerked in surprise to hear just how reckless the kid had been, but he was starting to think that was not only just a part of Setsuna's basic make-up, but that there might be something about Lucifer himself the kid couldn't resist. Setsuna had seen God, fought angels, no doubt devils as well. Maybe Lucifer, any incarnation of Lucifer, held a special fascination?
Steve ran his fingers through the kid's hair, soothed by both the motion and the fact that Setsuna saw him as safe. At least the boy knew he could come to Steve, no matter what, and he'd be protected. Or he hoped Setsuna knew that. He'd tried to make it clear . . .]
Setsuna . . . I wish you wouldn't take risks like that, meeting that madman in person, but you're always welcome here. There's nothing you can do that would make me mad enough to turn my back on you. Nothing. No matter what you do, or what you get into, you can come to me. I'll help you. That's a forever promise kiddo. They think back home I'll live at least another hundred-fifty years, if not more, so you're stuck with me for life and then some.
[He tried not to think too much about his theoretical immortality. It was true that he was aging, but he wasn't aging normally by any means, and no one really had a clue how long it might take to get to a point when his body and the serum just . . . stopped. It could be tomorrow, or three thousand years in the future. No one knew. But it sure as hell hurt knowing he'd be outliving everyone he cared for over and over for the rest of his life. He'd already done it once and it had sucked.
Steve sighed and shifted, pulling Setsuna into a more comfortable position, murmuring against the kid's temple.]
I said you don't ask. Please Setsuna. I can't stand losing anyone else. I'm barely holding together as it is. If I lost you too . . . You'll help most by staying safe.
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Steve ran his fingers through the kid's hair, soothed by both the motion and the fact that Setsuna saw him as safe. At least the boy knew he could come to Steve, no matter what, and he'd be protected. Or he hoped Setsuna knew that. He'd tried to make it clear . . .]
Setsuna . . . I wish you wouldn't take risks like that, meeting that madman in person, but you're always welcome here. There's nothing you can do that would make me mad enough to turn my back on you. Nothing. No matter what you do, or what you get into, you can come to me. I'll help you. That's a forever promise kiddo. They think back home I'll live at least another hundred-fifty years, if not more, so you're stuck with me for life and then some.
[He tried not to think too much about his theoretical immortality. It was true that he was aging, but he wasn't aging normally by any means, and no one really had a clue how long it might take to get to a point when his body and the serum just . . . stopped. It could be tomorrow, or three thousand years in the future. No one knew. But it sure as hell hurt knowing he'd be outliving everyone he cared for over and over for the rest of his life. He'd already done it once and it had sucked.
Steve sighed and shifted, pulling Setsuna into a more comfortable position, murmuring against the kid's temple.]
I said you don't ask. Please Setsuna. I can't stand losing anyone else. I'm barely holding together as it is. If I lost you too . . . You'll help most by staying safe.