Choice was the issue here, wasn't it? Beau had had the option to return home to an honest life, even if it meant bearing the weight of guilt as though he was Atlas. He had professors willing to guide him towards different career paths, and could have just as easily taken up work in a shop. The life of a brute didn't have to be the one he chose, but he had. And that was a guilt he'd have to live with.

"And if you can't?" He asked in a near whisper. The loan shark he worked for hadn't exactly sent Beau on rescue missions. Sometimes in the darkest of moments he wondered if some of the people he roughed up survived their injuries. With as many people as he assaulted there had to be a murder in there somewhere. Beau was glad he didn't know the truth. That was a guilt he couldn't bear to live with.

Beau reached for her hand with his free one. "I hurt a lot of people, Eavan. More than I can even remember."