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I'm never too busy for loved ones, Machina.

[Even after all this time, it still manages to startle Machina when someone indicates they love him. He really doesn't deserve Snow or her kindness.]

I'll be by later then.

-----

[Machina will turn up at the bakery late in the afternoon. He comes bearing a moogle plushie which he holds quietly while Snow finishes up what she's doing.]

[Snow White is at the front and just finished with the customer in the store before turning to look at Machina and the plush.]

OH! It's adorable! Who is it for?

It's for you. I thought you might like it.

[He holds the plushie out for the taking. But while he does, Machina also makes a pretty intense study of Snow's face, trying to commit everything to memory. He's been lost in his thoughts again and his concern is that Snow will be the next person to be snatched away from him. He considers her as much a sister as he did Porom and now the little one is gone.]

I do like it! It's wonderful! I haven't had a little-stuffed animal in ages! [She took the little creature and smiled down at it.]

It's precious. Thank you. But it isn't my birthday, and it isn't Christmas, what's the occasion?

It's a thank you, and an apology. I was... rude to you, even though you were looking out for me.

I'm sorry.

Oh Machina... [She reached up and held his cheek as she took the plush.] I accept your apology. But I'm very used to grumpy sorts, so I wasn't all that upset. Besides, you wouldn't be you if you didn't make a bit of a fuss about being taken care of.

[He'd wonder how she knows him so well but Snow manages to take him by surprise often.]

I'm not used to people caring. It's different here, but at home, I'm on my own. So, I don't like feeling indebted to anyone, or having to depend on anyone for anything.

Hmm... Machina, do you expect me to pay you back for all the kindness and things you've done for me? I'm not sure where this feeling of indebtedness has come from, I don't want you to feel indebted, friends and loved ones should help one another. And I love you very much.

So I would like it if you could think to depend on me a bit more.

No of course I don't expect payback. Besides, what have I ever done that's so great?

[He really doesn't want to distress her by sharing just how bad things are at home, how alone he really is, how he doesn't belong anywhere anymore, the horrors he's inflicted on people with his own hands.

Still, there's a soft sigh and a nod from him.]

I'll try to do better remembering to do that.

If you don't expect me to pay you back, then why in heaven's name would I expect the same of you, silly goose? [She smiled at him, reaching up to hold his cheek.]

You don't have to be anything other than yourself to be great, Machina. That's more than enough for me.

[She is so good to him, and deep down, Machina knows he doesn't deserve it. But oh how he yearns to be the person she thinks he is. He lifts a hand to rest over hers, thinking he doesn't deserve that kindness and meaning to lift it away. But he finds he just can't break the touch and instead leaves it there.]

Can I ask you something?

Of course, anything.

Do you think it's possible for someone to do something so heinous they can't be forgiven?

[He has an idea she'll say no, and knows that makes Snow vulnerable to being used. But, he needs to know if he's irredeemable in her eyes.]

I think, Machina, a better question to ask is if they want to be forgiven.

[Does he? Does he really want to be forgiven, absolved for slaughtering his own people in the streets? Doesn't matter that he was being controlled, it was still his hands that wielded the weapons. Even now, Machina doesn't regret taking the brand. He doesn't care for the consequences of it, but his reasons still stand and he needs to hold fast to those or he just might break under the torture of the things he's done. Things he knows he still has to do.]

And what if they don't? What if... they know it's not right to be forgiven?

[This is no philosophical question. There is no they. It's all him.]

[She closed her eyes and smiled as she shook her head.]

Then, it's not up to me anymore, Machina. If they cannot forgive themselves, even if I were to forgive them, they wouldn't acknowledge it.

[She's right, he won't accept it, even if at the same time, he craves it. There is enough of his old self left to realize it wouldn't be just. Machina puts a hand on top of her head.]

The world needs more people like you.

[He is a lost cause already, but he can work to make it safe for that kindness to remain untarnished.]

Well, I think the world needs everyone it has in it. We were all created and brought into this world for a reason, so everyone is needed!

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