If Abel likes the hands on his face, or simply doesn’t move them, Viper decides to leave them there, simply holding his face, giving him the physical affection that she hoped would offer him more comfort and grounding than most of her words would.
Viper did little but listen as he recounted more details. For once, she was… flabbergasted. Perplexed. Even flummoxed. …She was certainly worrying about him. Although, it did make her feel better to hear that he was loved. That his uncle and his father treated him well despite the past he had gone through. It’s what he deserved!
“It could have been worse, yeah. But that ain’t reason to give yourself a hard time.” She tutted, “One person’s trauma doesn’t make yours like, any less valid… or somethin’. Dunno, just somethin’ my roomie’s therapist told her once.” Viper shrugged, it was the most sagely advice she had to offer for that at least…
Her eyes widen a little in surprise as she notices the tears, making a quick motion to dab at them with the corner of her sleeves, but as more fall, she starts just occasionally wiping at his eyes as she still holds onto his face. Anger burns deep inside of her at the revelation of just why his name was Abel in the first place. What a cruel woman.
“Well… sometimes, names don’t have to be… everything about us. You know?” She winces a little, “Like, my name means ‘Beautiful Hope’ in some writings… and, well…” She gives a somewhat forced-sounding laugh.
“My parents, like, probably had so many good ideas for who I was gonna be, but… I’m 26 and a big disappointment.” She snorts,
“I think, you could become something more than some stupid reference to a Bible story.” She squishes his face, lightly. Viper couldn’t imagine what it must have felt like knowing that you were named after a biblical figure who had such a tragic story. To name your children in such a way to set up a rivalry from birth. “It’s…like, totes easier said than done, but…if we- if… you, ever get outta here. You gotta promise. If not for you, for me, kay?”
Why did she care so much? Why did she feel the need to comfort him, to offer him so much compassion? It was so unlike how she ever had been before she got here. Perhaps it was the looming fear of death over everyone’s heads. Or maybe, just maybe she cared more about people than she thought.
