[After returning home in his reality, it had been easy to throw himself into a new case, to hop from distraction to distraction in order to avoid revealing just how fragile he'd been. He'd thrown himself into chasing after the Desolation Engine, ignored everything else, and relied on his sharp focus to keep others from realizing that he had come back wrong.
Here, the only case he has is directly related to the very thing he's desperately trying to avoid. And here, somehow, people invariably notice the obvious cracks in his facade. They notice the difference in his skull, in the way he talks, in the way he moves -- and they ask. They worry over it. And he has no way to reassure them, or lie to them, to convince them that he's fine.
When Fio's grip loosens, it lets loose something desperate in Skulduggery, who grabs for her hand as if he could make up for not doing so right away. He wants to reassure her. Come up with something brave that will satisfy her and convince her that everything is fine. He can't.]
Yes. I'm sorry. [For being different. So monumentally different that people have wondered if he's really himself. Himself included.]
no subject
Here, the only case he has is directly related to the very thing he's desperately trying to avoid. And here, somehow, people invariably notice the obvious cracks in his facade. They notice the difference in his skull, in the way he talks, in the way he moves -- and they ask. They worry over it. And he has no way to reassure them, or lie to them, to convince them that he's fine.
When Fio's grip loosens, it lets loose something desperate in Skulduggery, who grabs for her hand as if he could make up for not doing so right away. He wants to reassure her. Come up with something brave that will satisfy her and convince her that everything is fine. He can't.]
Yes. I'm sorry. [For being different. So monumentally different that people have wondered if he's really himself. Himself included.]