"Well, it needs all them cats t'catch all the rats y'claim you've got."
The corner of her mouth tugs up into something reluctantly warm. She reaches for his hand again — don't worry, Tommy, it isn't remotely sticky.
"But y'don't hafta tell me sugarcoated stories. An' before y'start in again, all I mean is — you don't gotta tell me anythin' you don't want to. But not 'cuz y'think I can't handle it. I ain't ever gonna make you talk, but when y'need to? Don't fuss over me. I've seen a lot worse than y'may realize."
She squeezes his hand, and takes another bite of her pastry, chewing thoughtfully.
"I don't need stories 'bout kittens t'make me 'feel better'. I'm fine. I've jus' come back from hellfire, for pete's sake. Y'wanna talk t'me, then talk. Y'don't? Don't. S'as simple as that."
She pinches his chin again, looking serious in the way mothers do when they're trying to impress something important upon their children.
"Jus' remember I don't gotta tell you anythin', either. I did 'cuz you asked, an' 'cuz I wanted to."
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The corner of her mouth tugs up into something reluctantly warm. She reaches for his hand again — don't worry, Tommy, it isn't remotely sticky.
"But y'don't hafta tell me sugarcoated stories. An' before y'start in again, all I mean is — you don't gotta tell me anythin' you don't want to. But not 'cuz y'think I can't handle it. I ain't ever gonna make you talk, but when y'need to? Don't fuss over me. I've seen a lot worse than y'may realize."
She squeezes his hand, and takes another bite of her pastry, chewing thoughtfully.
"I don't need stories 'bout kittens t'make me 'feel better'. I'm fine. I've jus' come back from hellfire, for pete's sake. Y'wanna talk t'me, then talk. Y'don't? Don't. S'as simple as that."
She pinches his chin again, looking serious in the way mothers do when they're trying to impress something important upon their children.
"Jus' remember I don't gotta tell you anythin', either. I did 'cuz you asked, an' 'cuz I wanted to."