A selfish choice, she said, and Tybalt floundered in confusion. What had been selfish about it? If she didn't want to get married, she didn't want to get married, and it was best for both of their sakes that she was honest about it. But that was - that was not what she went on to say.
He stared at her, more wide-eyed than before. If she made it look like she couldn't wait - wouldn't wait - then he wouldn't have to quit quidditch. So she had been doing this for him, after all.
Tybalt swallowed, watching her silently battle her tears and blinking back his own in sheer astonishment. There was so much he wanted to say, all at once, so much that he needed to contest, to digest - she thought she wasn't worth it, the sacrifice? - but his throat was closed up, feeling as though all he could do was look at her and sigh.
"And you call that selfish?" He finally got out, biting his lip against an overwhelming tide of relief, that maybe this meant she still cared about him after all, cared enough that she even cared about his quidditch. Amidst this relief was a notion that creased his brow again, despite himself, and he fought off the temptation to stride over and fold her gratefully into his arms until he had brought it up, because the air had not yet cleared between them. She had been selfless, and brave, self-sacrificing and sensible, see, he understood that a little better now, but - she must not think him capable of the same.
"Did you not think," Tyb added, frowning suddenly, "that maybe that was a choice I could make for myself?" How easily she could just dismiss herself as not worth it, without giving him any say at all.
He stared at her, more wide-eyed than before. If she made it look like she couldn't wait - wouldn't wait - then he wouldn't have to quit quidditch. So she had been doing this for him, after all.
Tybalt swallowed, watching her silently battle her tears and blinking back his own in sheer astonishment. There was so much he wanted to say, all at once, so much that he needed to contest, to digest - she thought she wasn't worth it, the sacrifice? - but his throat was closed up, feeling as though all he could do was look at her and sigh.
"And you call that selfish?" He finally got out, biting his lip against an overwhelming tide of relief, that maybe this meant she still cared about him after all, cared enough that she even cared about his quidditch. Amidst this relief was a notion that creased his brow again, despite himself, and he fought off the temptation to stride over and fold her gratefully into his arms until he had brought it up, because the air had not yet cleared between them. She had been selfless, and brave, self-sacrificing and sensible, see, he understood that a little better now, but - she must not think him capable of the same.
"Did you not think," Tyb added, frowning suddenly, "that maybe that was a choice I could make for myself?" How easily she could just dismiss herself as not worth it, without giving him any say at all.
