❝ We all had our problems with authority, but none of us were sociopaths. ❞

This Meme || Accepting

Bryan couldn’t help the soft, rueful laugh at Murphy’s words. “I know,” He stated softly, “And I didn’t mean it that way. I was teasing.” He sat up a little more, taking a deep breath and hugging his knees to his chest, thoughtful and quiet for a long moment. “I meant,” He continued then, “That they didn’t see it all that way. Rules and shit like that, you know? They were doing what they thought was the right things and…”

He trailed off again, thinking about it and shaking his head. “It wasn’t right, no matter what. But they felt like it was. Which, was stupid, but… circumstances change you. Hell, look at me. And you know what, honestly?” His voice was softer, afraid of how Murphy would react, “I wish I’d been with you guys.”

“ I thought there were no heroes left in this world. ”

This Meme || Accepting

“No?” Bryan tilted his head, regarding Murphy quietly for a moment as he thought about the others words. “I mean, what exactly do you think a hero is, Murphy? Some perfect person who just always does what’s right and saves everyone? You realize that there’s no one in the world like that, yeah?” Bryan can’t help but chuckle faintly as he thinks about it; the heroes from the stories he’d read so long ago on the ark seemed like a distant memory.

“No one’s perfect, and what’s right for someone, might not be right for someone else. No matter how much I’d love for this to be a fairy tale, and go down to that new planet and be able to start a farm and forget all this shit that’s happened, it’s not going to happen, but we do what we can, and that’s what matters,” Bryan mused, glancing out the window for a moment, before adding almost absently, “Besides, we’ve got survivors like you, who have done so much for everyone they care about. Who says there aren’t any more heroes left?”

“ Bold of you to assume I can die. “

This Meme || Accepting

Bryan couldn’t help but let out a snort at Murphy’s words. He hadn’t meant it that way, what he’d said; though maybe it hadn’t been the best to blurt out, ‘Murphy? You’re alive?’ when they’d reached the ship and everyone had gotten on safely. Still, Bryan had been slightly surprised. They’d been through so much after all, and it was still a slight shock to him to see that the ones who’d been back up on space had lived.

“You’re right,” he stated after a pause, “If there’s any of us that are strong enough to survive all of this, it’s you. Pretty sure you’re going to outlive all of us, Murphy.” He offered the older boy a faint, lopsided smile at that, adding on after a moment, “You have some immortal secret going on there? A vampire or something? Maybe you should share with the rest of the class.”