Winter was unsurprised that he seemed to think she needed something from him. That was probably what he was used to, after all-it was pretty much how their fatherâs behaviour had shaped all of them, at the very least herself and Weiss, anyway. And from what little she had seen so far of the young man Whitley was becoming instead of the little boy he used to be, that seemed like a fair assumption for her to make about him as well-though sheâd die before she said that out loud.
âI donât need anything from you.â She told him. âIâm here to help you, Whitley. In whatever way that entails.â Maybe it was too late for her to offer to be a part of his life.
But, on the off chance it wasnât too late, that there was part of him who wanted that, too, didnât she owe it to both of them to at least try?
Why would she think he needed help? Well, the answer to that was simple. âI know what goes on in the manor just as well as you do, Whitley.â She said by way of explanation, her tone calm and without blame.
âYou have every right to be angry at me, and if you truly want me to leave, just say the word and I will, and you wonât ever have to see me again. But IâŚwant to make things right with you, however long that takes.â
Exchange was the way of the world. Nothing was free, and nothing was unearned. If it looked too good to be true than it was. Things like kindness, giving, and even charity were foreign to him. So the idea that his sister was here for anything less than something to gain didnât compute with him. Winter was a huntress and a solider, surely she had more important things to do than whatever this was. Not that he had any idea what those important things would be, but regardless. Whitley was sure it was far more important than âthisâ him.Â
âI donât know what would give you the incorrect idea that your help was needed or wanted.â He kept his tempter, he tried to keep his temper. He couldnât very well pull a Weiss and go off the rails, he didnât have that luxury. âAnd the fact you believe I need it, is insulting.â
It was... in the way that it hadnât been sooner. In the way that he had no idea how to take any help because heâd never been offered it before. The word sounded unfamiliar in his head and every instinct he had screamed it was some sort of trap.Â
Why else would she offer it now?
He stiffened at her words. Denying it was little use without an audience to listening in. The only person Whitley would be putting on a show for in this moment would be himself. Part of him wanted to do that anyway. It felt easier than saying the truth out loud. Not speaking of it made things easier. When he didnât speak of it, he could pretend it wasnât there. He liked pretending.
âYou know better than anyone that discussion is pointless.â Whitley stated it as a fact. To him, it was one. âIf there was anything to be done it would have been done already.â She worked under General Ironwood himself, if not even he could stop their father than what hope did anyone else have?Â
Restraining himself and not getting lost in his emotions, Whitley reminded himself. He had to continue down that path, anything else was unacceptable. âI am not angry at you.â A lie. âYou are irrelevant to me.â A larger lie. He swallowed. Her words pierced him more than Whitley would like. âI donât believe things being ârightâ between us is a reality that exists. Youâre a soldier Winter, Iâve been told youâre logical.â Been told. Kept up with her career in the military. Same difference. âYou should know better. Something that never existed in the first place is not mendable.âÂ
