[Sheena knew all too well that actions spoke more eloquently than words, which was why she had chosen to come to him in person. She felt he needed to see that she meant what she was saying in person; it had never occurred that perhaps he needed to feel it as well, that the truth she spoke was made tangible just by the simple act of wrapping her arms about him in a show of comfort and trust and friendship.
And that was the key: Sheena still trusted this man, and still called him "friend". And if the ninja was nothing else, she was loyal and protective of her friends, wanting to prevent whatever hurt they might face, and relieving any pain they might suffer.
And even when she felt him relax, Sheena rested her head gently against his and continued rocking and holding him, and would for however long Barnaby needed.
[ Eventually Barnaby does come back to his senses, though how long it takes him, he’s not quite sure. Whenever it happens, it seems as though he’s needed every moment of it. He lifts his head to look at her finally, still not sure what he should be saying despite all the time he’d just had to think of something appropriate. Perhaps once again, it’s not the words that are so important, but their actions.
Whatever the case, he’s still quiet for a few moments longer, before finally speaking up. ]
… Thank you.
[ For believing in him, for forgiving him when he didn’t think that he rightly deserved it and wasn’t even sure that he could forgive himself. Perhaps now he finally could. Not immediately, but time did a good job of healing those wounds of his sometimes. ]
[Except for the rocking and motion of her hand over his hair, Sheena hadn't moved. She has no idea how long they've been sitting like this, either. And to be frightfully honest, she really doesn't care. She'll stay with Barnaby for however long he needs her.
Feeling him stir, she finally turns her head to look at him, a gentle, questioning smile gracing her features.]
You're welcome, Barnaby.
[And not just now. Any time he needs to talk or comfort, he's welcome to come to her. Time may heal all wounds, but sometimes it needs a little help along the way.]
[ It’s not easy for Barnaby to confide in others, even when they’ve shared a similar experience. Even that isn’t entirely true – he knows that what happened to Sheena was far worse than anything that he’d had to go through on that ship. The fact that she had been able to forgive him, however, spoke highly of his character – and he thought that, perhaps, he’d finally be able to start forgiving himself.
And somehow, he found himself able to give her a small smile in turn, barely there though it was. It was a start. ]
[Sheena's the same way--keeping things bottled up and hidden away so people won't worry about her; although that's not why she's forgiven Barnaby. She truly feels that he had done the right thing in order to keep with his principle of protecting others. Now he just has to forgive himself.
She isn't totally unscathed by what had happened, but she feels that Barnaby has suffered worse than she has--by doing the very thing he had never done before. Not once, but twice...
And to the same person.
She can only imagine how hard that must be for him, but her worries are abated slightly at the appearance of that smile. It's small, almost hidden by the angle of his head, but it's honest, and it's there, and it gives her the feeling that his healing has truly begun.
And once more, the ninja envelops him in an embrace, hopefully giving that healing the boost it needs.]
[ Forgiving himself is always a slow process. Barnaby has been through this process many times before, both for issues more and less severe than this one. One would think that he would have learned by now how important it was to forgive himself and to be able to move past the issues that have arisen as a result, but apparently he wasn’t quite at that stage yet.
This did help, however, and he was grateful for it. Even if he wasn’t particularly good at expressing such sentiments, it still meant a lot to Barnaby even if he didn’t know how to say as much. It didn’t matter. The way that he leaned into her again and let her hold him would hopefully say it for him all the same. ]
[Sheena knows how tough forgiving anyone can be--yourself being the hardest because that's the one person you can never avoid. And whose eyes know the truth better than anyone else's. Once you can get past those eyes, however, the road to forgiveness becomes easier.
And it's even easier when there's someone there to help you along--something Sheena had learned by experience and wanted to pass along to Barnaby. So, when she feels him lean into her again, she responds to his display if gratitude by tightening her hold and resuming her rocking.
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branchandroot
(no subject)
Date: 2013-10-28 09:10 am (UTC)And that was the key: Sheena still trusted this man, and still called him "friend". And if the ninja was nothing else, she was loyal and protective of her friends, wanting to prevent whatever hurt they might face, and relieving any pain they might suffer.
And even when she felt him relax, Sheena rested her head gently against his and continued rocking and holding him, and would for however long Barnaby needed.
She wasn't going anywhere.]
(no subject)
Date: 2013-10-28 09:27 am (UTC)Whatever the case, he’s still quiet for a few moments longer, before finally speaking up. ]
… Thank you.
[ For believing in him, for forgiving him when he didn’t think that he rightly deserved it and wasn’t even sure that he could forgive himself. Perhaps now he finally could. Not immediately, but time did a good job of healing those wounds of his sometimes. ]
(no subject)
Date: 2013-10-30 07:34 am (UTC)Feeling him stir, she finally turns her head to look at him, a gentle, questioning smile gracing her features.]
You're welcome, Barnaby.
[And not just now. Any time he needs to talk or comfort, he's welcome to come to her. Time may heal all wounds, but sometimes it needs a little help along the way.]
(no subject)
Date: 2013-10-31 11:05 pm (UTC)And somehow, he found himself able to give her a small smile in turn, barely there though it was. It was a start. ]
(no subject)
Date: 2013-11-08 02:15 am (UTC)She isn't totally unscathed by what had happened, but she feels that Barnaby has suffered worse than she has--by doing the very thing he had never done before. Not once, but twice...
And to the same person.
She can only imagine how hard that must be for him, but her worries are abated slightly at the appearance of that smile. It's small, almost hidden by the angle of his head, but it's honest, and it's there, and it gives her the feeling that his healing has truly begun.
And once more, the ninja envelops him in an embrace, hopefully giving that healing the boost it needs.]
(no subject)
Date: 2013-11-08 10:50 pm (UTC)This did help, however, and he was grateful for it. Even if he wasn’t particularly good at expressing such sentiments, it still meant a lot to Barnaby even if he didn’t know how to say as much. It didn’t matter. The way that he leaned into her again and let her hold him would hopefully say it for him all the same. ]
(no subject)
Date: 2013-11-28 05:49 pm (UTC)And it's even easier when there's someone there to help you along--something Sheena had learned by experience and wanted to pass along to Barnaby. So, when she feels him lean into her again, she responds to his display if gratitude by tightening her hold and resuming her rocking.
He was very welcome.]