#nyeh.

Only after fighting a living alien weapon. There was another Vault where we had to fight a metal T-Rex tank and it only opened after feeding it the blood of the ultimate coward. So. Yeah.

What the fuck?

.....I do like holdin’ hands a lot. It makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside.

YES.

I’VE KILLED PEOPLE. HUMANS, SPECIFICALLY.

BUT THAT WEIGHS ON ME SOMETIMES. I USED TO COME FROM A PLACE WHERE I HATED A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS, WHEN I HAD A LOT OF CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WERE UNFAIR. AND I DEALT POORLY WITH IT. 

I USED TO THINK THAT KILLING THE PROBLEM WAS THE BEST CHOICE. IT TOOK ME A LONG TIME TO REALIZE, THAT, FOR ME; I WAS MAKING AN EASY CHOICE. IT WAS EASIER TO HATE. IT WAS EASIER TO WANT THOSE THINGS THAT HURT ME AND MY LOVED ONES TO BE DEAD.

ITS MUCH, MUCH HARDER TO TRY AND FIND A DIFFERENT CHOICE

ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THINGS GOING ON AT THE MOMENT

BECAUSE, EVEN IF I DON’T WANT THAT GUY TO DIE, BECAUSE I THINK DEATH SHOULDN’T BE THE SOLUTION, I STILL WANT TO PUNCH HIM

AND I DON’T LIKE THAT ABOUT MYSELF. I DON’T WANT TO BE THE KIND OF PERSON WHO SEES BAD THINGS HAPPEN, AND GETS CAUGHT UP IN THE ANGRY FEELINGS ABOUT THINGS. I DON’T WANT TO PICK UP A TORCH AND YELL THE SAME THINGS, TO WISH DEATH ON OTHERS

BECAUSE I’M NOT THE SAME PERSON I WAS SEVEN YEARS AGO

BECAUSE A GOOD FRIEND CHANGED HOW I SAW THINGS, AND REKINDLED MY BELIEF THAT EVEN THE ABSOLUTE, MOST WORST PERSON CAN CHANGE FOR THE BETTER, IF THEIR EYES ARE OPENED

THATS. PROBABLY WHY I DON’T REALLY WANT THE GUY TO DIE.

DEAD EYES SEE NOTHING.

DEAD MEN DON’T CHANGE.

MAYBE HE WON’T CHANGE ANYWAYS, BUT….

…

I DON’T KNOW. I DON’T REALLY KNOW ANYTHING, I THINK.

     “Who do you think you are, my father?” Zed scoffs, raising a brow and crossing his arms. “We’re basically the same age. You have no right! Besides, I’m not tired yet!”

     As if to demonstrate, Zed does a jumping jack. 

     “See? Totally full of energy. What’s the point in sleeping when I just don’t want to? I could be training more, practising hitting one of the sand dummies with a shuriken, staring at the stars…”

     He trails off, glancing out the window, then at Shen. A smile tugs at the corners of his lips, accompanied by a twinkle in his eyes, and before Zed can stop it, he’s broken out into a full-blown grin.

     “You know, could be fun. Stargazing. The old man always tells you to commune with the stars, right? And it has been a while since you last snuck out with me. I mean, who needs sleep? We’re miles ahead of any other disciples regardless, so…”

     He extends a hand.