[He listens, soothed by the words. Yes, there's laughter and odd movements, but it's all he's learned to recognize as Mitsuhide, so he does not mind. Not at all.]
I was. [Worried, that is.
Nn... [The hair-ruffling takes him by surprise and he almost raises hands to stop it, but. He doesn't. Tears escape unbidden, before he even realizes they had gathered in his eyes. He tries to nestle into Mitsuhide, despite the icy touch— his feathers ruffle and fan out to keep him warm, but he stays close.]
I don't like my hair being touched. Adeku-san used to do that, both when I was small and later, but he doesn't remember that. It hurts now.
[Seeming to realize something, he suddenly lifts his head.]
Hey, Mitsuhide-san, is that why you like it? To be beaten up? Because he did it? Or because your feelings are too much to deal with?
... can you beat a heart so it does not feel anymore? So nothing would hurt...?
[With that decidedly unpleasant question, he lifts his head to look up at him almost hopefully. But Shootie, if that were possible, would that not have been done already?]
[...... child]
I was. [Worried, that is.
Nn... [The hair-ruffling takes him by surprise and he almost raises hands to stop it, but. He doesn't. Tears escape unbidden, before he even realizes they had gathered in his eyes. He tries to nestle into Mitsuhide, despite the icy touch— his feathers ruffle and fan out to keep him warm, but he stays close.]
I don't like my hair being touched. Adeku-san used to do that, both when I was small and later, but he doesn't remember that. It hurts now.
[Seeming to realize something, he suddenly lifts his head.]
Hey, Mitsuhide-san, is that why you like it? To be beaten up? Because he did it? Or because your feelings are too much to deal with?
... can you beat a heart so it does not feel anymore? So nothing would hurt...?
[With that decidedly unpleasant question, he lifts his head to look up at him almost hopefully. But Shootie, if that were possible, would that not have been done already?]