But just because I think SW is right, dosen't mean it's reassuring, because there's nothing reassuring about having been hurt/injured often enough that you're used to it, even if you CAN handle it perfectly fine.
Idk, I do find that reassuring. Getting hurt in the line of duty is something that happens. SW has healing powers. (We see that with the Shadow Man.) I don't think "avoidance of necessary suffering" is a priority for either of them, and that's okay? He has plenty of good things in his life too -- all the flavours, just like Kunlun promised him!
and there's no way to pay it back (not that SW would want that), and what does that make him? What does that mean for them? That has to be part of why he's lashing out at SW and (rhetorically) asking what he's expecting in return.
Yes! He's like "I don't understand what our relationship is to you, and YOU WON'T TELL ME!"
OT, but I'm always very aware during "This life is what I'm returning to you" of the differential between the personal costs of "shot some bad guys from a safe distant position" and "actual energy exchange that is burning through his energy structure" -- so I have to read the "life" as about more than just the narrow definition of helping SW survive that first YOHE battle. I think the "life" ZYL gave SW was hope-at-a-time-of-extreme-hopelessness and connection and love and fighting-at-his-side. And SW in return is giving ZYL self-care and his sight back and connection and love and fighting-at-his-side.
ETA: that he's been given this gift-sacrifice (great term) and he can't/won't turn it down, and there's no way to pay it back (not that SW would want that), and what does that make him?
And also: his literal title is Guardian. He is supposed to be the one protecting people!!
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Idk, I do find that reassuring. Getting hurt in the line of duty is something that happens. SW has healing powers. (We see that with the Shadow Man.) I don't think "avoidance of necessary suffering" is a priority for either of them, and that's okay? He has plenty of good things in his life too -- all the flavours, just like Kunlun promised him!
and there's no way to pay it back (not that SW would want that), and what does that make him? What does that mean for them? That has to be part of why he's lashing out at SW and (rhetorically) asking what he's expecting in return.
Yes! He's like "I don't understand what our relationship is to you, and YOU WON'T TELL ME!"
OT, but I'm always very aware during "This life is what I'm returning to you" of the differential between the personal costs of "shot some bad guys from a safe distant position" and "actual energy exchange that is burning through his energy structure" -- so I have to read the "life" as about more than just the narrow definition of helping SW survive that first YOHE battle. I think the "life" ZYL gave SW was hope-at-a-time-of-extreme-hopelessness and connection and love and fighting-at-his-side. And SW in return is giving ZYL self-care and his sight back and connection and love and fighting-at-his-side.
ETA: that he's been given this gift-sacrifice (great term) and he can't/won't turn it down, and there's no way to pay it back (not that SW would want that), and what does that make him?
And also: his literal title is Guardian. He is supposed to be the one protecting people!!