“ he was just a kid, kaidan. ”
he winces as even the most careful and gentle amount of pressure is applied to the swelling around his blackened eye, the swelling on his cheek ------------ not quite because of physical pain ( although make no mistake ; he’s feeling that, too ) but because of the way the bruising feels like a brand ( murderer ! ), the significance of which is only clear to danny himself ; for most others will look at him and see only a sacrifice of a war hero.
kaidan still has danny’s gaze for a mere moment before it’s cast downward upon the ground. the encounter has left him unusually quiet ------------ unsettled, above all else. he’s hesitant to continue, always hesitant to disclose information regarding himself prior to enlistment, for he’s filled with too much shame, unresolved ; kaidan knows more than anyone but there exists no one outside of danny himself who knows everything, six years is simply too much time to cover ( or that’s the excuse ). but he sees the way kaidan’s anger manifests itself in an electric blue aura and he wants to try to relieve him. or explain, at any rate.
“ jus’ a kid down on his luck, y’know ? i, ah, had a run-in with the kid’s brothah a while back. blue sun. ” he lets the implication hang there. “ now the kid’s left to fend fah himself. ” yet another pause, during which he crosses his arms over his chest, tight, because he’s hyper-aware, uncomfortable with them just dangling uselessly at his sides. “ he jus’ ------------ reminded me of me. ” and the admission feels like he’d been struck again. “ anyways, i think i’m gonna hafta watch my mouth fah a while. ‘m gonna be a little shawt on credits, too. ” @kaidani ( from here )