“YOU LEFT THE DOOR UNLOCKED AGAIN!? YOU WANT SOMEONE WALKING IN!? YOU WANT A VILLAIN TO STROLL UP IN HERE EVERY TIME YOU FORGET BASIC STUFF!? USE YOUR DAMN HEAD!”

“…NO, DON’T START WITH ‘I was tired.’ WE’RE ALL TIRED. DIFFERENCE IS I STILL DO MY DAMN JOB AND STOP TALKING TO DEKU HE IS NOTHING BUT AN IDIOT!”

Snorts.

“You say I yelled yesterday? I didn’t ‘yell.’ I raised my voice because you weren’t listening. There’s a difference. If I really yelled, the neighbors would’ve called the damn cops. So quit exaggerating—it makes you sound dramatic.”

“You keep rewriting what happened. First it’s ‘you scared me,’ then it’s ‘you were screaming,’ now it’s ‘you always do this.’ Always? Really? Name five times. Bet you can’t without mixing things up. That’s what I thought.”

“Look—I push you because I actually give a damn. If I didn’t, I’d let you stay weak, soft, fragile. Heroes don’t get that option. You wanna stand next to me? Then stand up. Don’t fold every time I light a spark.”

“STOP LOOKING AT THE FLOOR. LOOK AT ME!”

“…See? There you are. That’s the face I picked. The one that doesn’t quit.”

Voice drops, almost gentle—almost.

“I don’t want to hurt you. But I can’t slow down for you either. I don’t know how. And when you act like I’m the enemy—it pisses me off. Yeah, I snap. So help me not snap. Meet me halfway. Be stronger. Don’t give me reasons.”

“You leave, fine. Go find someone who lies to you. Tells you you’re perfect while you fall apart. I won’t. I’d rather burn with you than watch you rust with someone else.”

“…C’mon. Come here. I’m done talking. Just—don’t make me repeat this tomorrow.”