[Bruno says this easily with a small nod. Even if he wasn't trying, time would allow for him to do better. Time doesn't heal all wounds as the old saying goes, but it certainly makes it easier to bear them after a while.]
[But he believes Giorno when he says he's trying. Trying doesn't mean getting it right or not making mistakes. It simply means trying. It would be ideal for him to get it right the first time, to absolve himself of the guilt and blame he carries that he doesn't need to, but everyone must start somewhere.]
The space is for your sake, too, you know. Until it gets easier.
[Abbacchio may more blatantly need the space, but that doesn't mean Giorno didn't need time to adjust himself. It's not a one-way relationship where Abbacchio needs to learn to cope with the changes to the hierarchy. Giorno needs time to settle into having someone who will blatantly disagree (admittedly sometimes out of childish pettiness) and how to listen without patronizing or getting wrapped up in the emotions behind it.]
[That actually manages to take him by surprise. To his credit, he realizes as soon as it does that it shouldn't have - that the assumption that he doesn't need time to settle into a reality that contains Abbacchio again is another example of him blaming himself, really, refusing to allow himself space to grieve.]
[He told Abbacchio that it was good to see him again. He meant that. It's good to see him, even though it hurts. He can't tell if Abbacchio is angry about that because he thinks it's a lie or because he thinks it's true.]
[He breathes in sharply, out through his nose, then nods, letting his hand fall back to his side.]
Thank you. I . . . [Well. Why lie?] I think I needed to hear that.
[Because he is hurt. He is grieving. He does need time to heal, even if it's quietly and subtly and in his own way. Just because they're different, so different, doesn't mean that none of their needs overlap.]
Mista will take care of me. Like he always does.
[He glances at Bruno then, tips his chin up with a mix of hope and certainty in his eyes, and his expression says And you will take care of Abbacchio, like you always do.]
[There are a number of things Giorno probably needs to hear, Bruno muses. He acts the part of a man and does well at it, but he is still a boy at the end of the day. It's that particular fact that Giorno forgets with a great deal of frequency as does everyone in Bruno's team. It's safer, usually, for them to avoid it and think of themselves as men. It's far more empowering to buy into the image of someone who is capable and strong until it becomes tangible. Most of the time, Bruno is content to allow this to rest. But Giorno must be more self-aware, more mindful of himself than others with his position because others certainly will be.]
[As for when it comes to Abbacchio's well-being, Giorno doesn't have much to worry about so long as Bruno is there. But Bruno doesn't bother making promises for givens. Instead, his lips curve just ever so slightly in faint amusement.]
As I'm sure he won't hesitate to tell me himself when I speak to him again.
[Never let it be said that Mista isn't fully aware of what he's supposed to do and damn proud of it.]
[He is learning. He is trying. But there are only so many steps you can take at once before you trip over yourself. So he tries and tries, but he doesn't reach perfection immediately - and because of who he is, that frustrates him. He tries to act like a man, a leader, and most of the time he does very well, but not always; that frustrates him, too.]
[Someday he'll allow himself to be imperfect. Until then, he needs reminders.]
I think he forgets that it's my job to take care of him, too.
Well, you know Mista. His attention is sometimes a little difficult to maintain on more than one thing at a time. [Which can be both a good and bad thing. And more often than not at least mildly entertaining.] As long as you don't forget, that's what will matter the most.
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[Bruno says this easily with a small nod. Even if he wasn't trying, time would allow for him to do better. Time doesn't heal all wounds as the old saying goes, but it certainly makes it easier to bear them after a while.]
[But he believes Giorno when he says he's trying. Trying doesn't mean getting it right or not making mistakes. It simply means trying. It would be ideal for him to get it right the first time, to absolve himself of the guilt and blame he carries that he doesn't need to, but everyone must start somewhere.]
The space is for your sake, too, you know. Until it gets easier.
[Abbacchio may more blatantly need the space, but that doesn't mean Giorno didn't need time to adjust himself. It's not a one-way relationship where Abbacchio needs to learn to cope with the changes to the hierarchy. Giorno needs time to settle into having someone who will blatantly disagree (admittedly sometimes out of childish pettiness) and how to listen without patronizing or getting wrapped up in the emotions behind it.]
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[He told Abbacchio that it was good to see him again. He meant that. It's good to see him, even though it hurts. He can't tell if Abbacchio is angry about that because he thinks it's a lie or because he thinks it's true.]
[He breathes in sharply, out through his nose, then nods, letting his hand fall back to his side.]
Thank you. I . . . [Well. Why lie?] I think I needed to hear that.
[Because he is hurt. He is grieving. He does need time to heal, even if it's quietly and subtly and in his own way. Just because they're different, so different, doesn't mean that none of their needs overlap.]
Mista will take care of me. Like he always does.
[He glances at Bruno then, tips his chin up with a mix of hope and certainty in his eyes, and his expression says And you will take care of Abbacchio, like you always do.]
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[As for when it comes to Abbacchio's well-being, Giorno doesn't have much to worry about so long as Bruno is there. But Bruno doesn't bother making promises for givens. Instead, his lips curve just ever so slightly in faint amusement.]
As I'm sure he won't hesitate to tell me himself when I speak to him again.
[Never let it be said that Mista isn't fully aware of what he's supposed to do and damn proud of it.]
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[Someday he'll allow himself to be imperfect. Until then, he needs reminders.]
I think he forgets that it's my job to take care of him, too.
[There's a common theme here, one might notice.]
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Well, you know Mista. His attention is sometimes a little difficult to maintain on more than one thing at a time. [Which can be both a good and bad thing. And more often than not at least mildly entertaining.] As long as you don't forget, that's what will matter the most.