Lasky knew some of the, things that came with some of the Spartans. Well, he really wouldn’t call it a problem, a problem could be fixed. He couldn’t that he felt bad for most, if not all of them, wishing he could do something to help. The only thing he could think of doing, was to be there should they need someone. While many knew his great respect for the Spartans, only a few knew exactly why he had so much respect for them. The man’s eyes looked up at her, taking the glass in his hands, repeating the words she spoke. Wanting to remember it so he could hopefully try find a way that could help her sleep. Which would be difficult, he didn’t know if there was a way to stop nightmares. He took a sip of the milk, before setting it down, while wanting to sleep, he was enjoying the conversation he was having with her. It wasn’t often that the two had a chance to speak, he mostly spoke with John.
“I use to have quite a lot of nightmares before, well, technically I still do. Guess I’ve just grown use to it. Though, in rare times I do have good dreams, and when I do I really hate waking up.” Lasky looks down at the glass of milk, taking more of it before setting it down on the table next to his bed.
“Can’t imagine what your nightmares would be like, or how it makes you feel. I’ve been through alot, but never like you. Just so you know, Artemis, should you ever need a friend, I’m here for you. Always.” He offered a soft smile, while there was quite a bit of people he liked, there were very few he would consider a close friend. And that’s how he viewed her, and just like the rest, he would always be there for those he had a close connection with.
“And thanks, glad to know you’ll wake me when its needed. Can’t let them think their Captain would rather sleep than to deal with an urgent matter.”
Artemis lowered herself to perch on the edge of the bed, a sad smile flickering briefly across her features, before disappearing as quickly as it had come. She reached out and patted Lasky on the knee, before folding her hands in her lap and staring straight ahead.
He was a well-meaning man, and she couldn’t fault him for being concerned over her wellbeing, over her mental health. But there were some things that he could not solve, that nobody could solve; her mind was riddled by the shadows that ONI had created, from the tender age of five years old. And no matter how hard she tried, she was certain she could never fully relieve herself of their torment.
“I have been… unlucky, many times throughout the course of my life,” she shrugged a shoulder, nonchalant, “I have also been lucky, but there are occasions on which I have wished that it were not the case.”
Her fingers knitted together; she broke them apart, and knitted them together, over and over again. A nervous tic that she couldn’t quite get rid of.
“I have lost two… three families, and there are times when I wish I could lay down and go to sleep, and… join them. I miss them, and it hurts so much to breathe sometimes. I know that I have to live for them, and I want to do that, but it’s….” An explosive sigh escaped her. “It’s hard. For seven long, aching years I’d thought that I’d never see any of my fellow Spartans again. And then Reach happened.”
Not wanting to go into detail in that moment, although she was sure that he knew of the devastation that had taken place on that colony. And that he also knew of the lasting effects it had had on many people.
Her lips trembled, and she fell silent, curling her hands into the material of her cargo shorts. It was foolish, and it was childish, but what human was not subject to such whims?
Artemis glanced over to the Naval officer, when he let her know that he would be there for her as a friend. She offered up a weak smile, one that didn’t quite reach her eyes, and she patted his knee again. “My thanks, Capt— Thomas.” That was going to be hard to get used to, that was for sure. It was not easy for her to not fall back on old habits, old instincts.
“I am known to be a keeper of my word.” The smile flickered, strengthened, but still not quite meeting those sad, sad eyes. “I prefer to be honest, and to keep my promises. It makes life much easier and kinder for everyone around me.”
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