@heliosborne || Cont.
The other’s words did little to satiate the that deep seeded need to feel secure. Not in this turmoil of emotions stirring and swelling inside him like a distant storm on the horizon. He’s sorry? Tachibana had his back? He’d ask for forgiveness for not believing in such words, but the last thing he feels deserving of is any form of forgiveness. He bites his lip with such force to keep back the burning in his eyes that he nearly re-opens a three day old split in his lip that had scabbed over and started to heal.
The pain makes him wince and draws his senses back, just enough.
“You dont need to feel obligated to look out for me,” he answers. His words are strained, his throat tight as he tries to work around the lump that’s formed there. He’s near a breaking point and struggling to keep the pieces in check. Mishima would rather lie about not needing someone to watch his back or help him out rather that accept assistance from what he can only assume is someone else’s drive to alleviate the guilt by association. He didn’t need it if it was only to make the other feel better about their situation.
“I’m sorry I brought up... this...” There aren’t even proper words anymore to describe this sensation of desperately reaching for some sort of stability, all the while so untrusting of the people around him.
He’s just scared of taking that support, and then watching it drop him like a rock as soon as it’s no longer a convenience to Tachibana.