[For normal adults, there may well be a way to cross even this kind of gap. For these two, there may still be a glimmer of hope. They've established that they don't hate each other. They've learned to work together.
But Byakuya established his sense of self as "alone" at a very young age. It's just the way he views the world. He's alone, and all he wants is to be satisfied, so it's everyone else's fault if he isn't. Because he's alone, his inability to be valued by others is both natural and not his fault. The unfortunate side effect is that he can't imagine this status quo ever being upset.
It isn't that he rejects Kariya's attempts to reach for him. It's simply that he doesn't notice them at all. According to his world view, they can't exist. He's alone, and he can't do anything to change anything. That's just the only reality he can see.
It's with genuine obliviousness that he closes the first aid kit and gets stiffly off the floor. As always he wraps his hopelessness around him like a hood and cloak, only right now he's wrapped it so tight there isn't a bit of his usual nerves to be seen.]
no subject
[For normal adults, there may well be a way to cross even this kind of gap. For these two, there may still be a glimmer of hope. They've established that they don't hate each other. They've learned to work together.
But Byakuya established his sense of self as "alone" at a very young age. It's just the way he views the world. He's alone, and all he wants is to be satisfied, so it's everyone else's fault if he isn't. Because he's alone, his inability to be valued by others is both natural and not his fault. The unfortunate side effect is that he can't imagine this status quo ever being upset.
It isn't that he rejects Kariya's attempts to reach for him. It's simply that he doesn't notice them at all. According to his world view, they can't exist. He's alone, and he can't do anything to change anything. That's just the only reality he can see.
It's with genuine obliviousness that he closes the first aid kit and gets stiffly off the floor. As always he wraps his hopelessness around him like a hood and cloak, only right now he's wrapped it so tight there isn't a bit of his usual nerves to be seen.]
Clean up the blood where you can.