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[ She frowns. ]

You shouldn't say that about your brother. Families shouldn't hate each other. You need to stick together as much as you can.

Some families don't work that way, Maya. Mine happens to be one of 'em. [He gives her a small, sad smile. What she's saying reflects her age a lot, and the belief she still has left in people, and the world. It's nice to see, despite everything.]

You have a family. And it's a whole one, from the sound of it.

[ Her eyes narrow. ]

Appreciate what you've got while you've got it.

Edited 2017-01-01 16:48 (UTC)

I would if they ever bothered to care. I've been the outsider in my own family with everyone but my grandmother since I was nine years old. They don't care, Maya, why should I?

Because they stayed.

[It's a small, short statement, but she says it like it means something important anyway.]

You're right. I left. At nineteen...because I didn't fit what they wanted for me, I didn't belong in my own family. [He wouldn't say it out loud, but he definitely didn't feel wanted there. Why stay in a place like that?

But he does pick up on the significance and the weight in her words. His voice is soft with an edge of careful caution-- there's no pressure for her to answer him, if she doesnt want to.] Who left you?

Everyone leaves, sooner or later.

[She shrugs.]

Sometimes they get mad. Sometimes they get frustrated. Sometimes they think you're never gonna change and they're better off without you.

Did you start a different family after you left? [That's how it usually goes, isn't it?]

Not for a long time. The family I have now is built around my friends. [But he realizes he needs to point out something important.] I do still talk to my parents and my brother, and see them, it's just...in small doses, because we really don't get along at all.

Sounds nice, for you.

[Her father didn't even have a good reason for leaving. He just messed up. People mess up and it ruins lives.]

[He doesn't know her story, but he thinks given how young she still is, it must have been one of her parents. He can't pretend to know how that feels, but he can imagine it's harsh. The kind of reality someone so young shouldn't have dropped on them so early.]

Know what? [He leans forward a little, smallest of smiles tugging at one corner of his mouth.] Found family can be a thousand times better than your real one, sometimes. You can have that, Maya. The people you care about, the ones that care about you, the friends you surround yourself with? They can be family, too. Family's more than shared DNA. What counts is they care.

Edited 2017-01-01 18:19 (UTC)

[But she bristles at the sudden heart to heart. This guy brings her out here to try turning her against her found family, just to tell her that found families are important? What can he possibly know about that?]

You're new at this lecture thing aren't you?

[He was never actually trying to turn her against Leonard, just make her understand why he did what he did for him.

He winces a little at that.] That obvious, huh?

At least yours comes with candy.

[She snatches a Twizzler from the table, shrugging her shoulders.]

[He chuckles lightly at that.] So...you still want the snow gun?

[But that question makes her sober.]

Did you ever bother asking me why I want one?

[His lips pull into a soft line. She's right, actually. He never thought to ask, just went straight to saying no because she's still a kid.]

No, I didn't. But I'll listen, if you wanna tell me now.

I got a friend here. She still thinks the world is full of good stuff, you know? Problem is, it's hard to keep her thinking that in a place like this.

[She shrugs, turning away from him.]

So I keep her safe.

[He nods slowly. He can understand that instinct. It's why he's made a good number of the things he's made for The Flash, after all. Because he wants Barrh safe.]

Do you think this is the only way you can do that?

[He doesn't sound judgmental or like he's making assumptions at all, it's just a genuine question.]

I think I'll do anything to do it. But some toy snow gun ain't gonna do anyone any good.

So do what you want. I'll figure it out by myself if I have to.

[He thinks it's great that she wants to go to these lengths to protect her friend, but he still can't agree to this.]

Think we could find a compromise, here? I don't disagree, you could do with a way to protect yourself. [Just not with a gun like Leonard's. She can hate it or not, but there are things that just aren't age appropriate, and that he can't hand her in good conscience.]

Your compromises are toys and I'm not interested in your pity.

[He's talking down to her. He thinks she can't handle herself. It's infuriating.]

This would be me, asking for your input. [He perks a brow at her. There must be some kind of middle ground they could agree on, here.]

[ She glances back to him, doing her best to keep up a disinterested appearance. ]

You care what I think? Since when?

Since you made me see what a jerk I was being by not even considering what your reasons were in the first place. [Hey, he can admit when he was wrong, okay? He might have made a few too many assumptions in that particular department, a bit too quickly.]

[ she'll turn back around then, softening. ]

Yeah? You're not just saying that to shut me up?

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