A simple word. One syllable. One of the most common words used by everyone over the age of 2. And yet, it carried so much weight. Nicky turned, boots still in hand, expression imploring Joe to believe him. To understand.
"I know that he has changed, Joe. He's opened up, he's talked to me. He told me about his family. Not their deaths, but their lives. I took him to visit their graves and his soul was the lightest I'd ever seen it.
"He is healing, Joe. Healing enough that he is willing to face the punishment we gave him without it only ripping us apart even more. I know you hate that I went. I know you are angry with me for not letting him rip himself into pieces and bash himself to death over and over again on the rocks of his own mind, but at least trust me on this one thing.
He is better."
It was probably the most he'd spoken to Joe in weeks and it made his heart ache enough that he had to look away.
"Merrick took a broken man who was willing to do anything to end his pain and manipulated him. He twisted his words and Booker's mind until he got what he wanted.
"Yes, he is bait. But he knows he is bait. What would you have me do, habibi? Leave him there to serve his century under someone's blade, knowing that someone knew where he was and still left him there?"
no subject
A simple word. One syllable. One of the most common words used by everyone over the age of 2. And yet, it carried so much weight. Nicky turned, boots still in hand, expression imploring Joe to believe him. To understand.
"I know that he has changed, Joe. He's opened up, he's talked to me. He told me about his family. Not their deaths, but their lives. I took him to visit their graves and his soul was the lightest I'd ever seen it.
"He is healing, Joe. Healing enough that he is willing to face the punishment we gave him without it only ripping us apart even more. I know you hate that I went. I know you are angry with me for not letting him rip himself into pieces and bash himself to death over and over again on the rocks of his own mind, but at least trust me on this one thing.
He is better."
It was probably the most he'd spoken to Joe in weeks and it made his heart ache enough that he had to look away.
"Merrick took a broken man who was willing to do anything to end his pain and manipulated him. He twisted his words and Booker's mind until he got what he wanted.
"Yes, he is bait. But he knows he is bait. What would you have me do, habibi? Leave him there to serve his century under someone's blade, knowing that someone knew where he was and still left him there?"