It's that final word that finally do make the tears appear. Not too many, but just enough for Inigo's eyes to grow watery as he still clings to Roland, for his hands to shake as the teardrops slowly start dripping down from his eyes to the ground as he looks downwards.
Son. Just that word makes everything Roland says so much more powerful. After all.. Isn't it what Inigo wanted all along, all this time? How many times did he lie there awake at night, too alert too sleep? Hearing the Risen in the distance, knowing that there would be no rest, and just desperately wishing for his father - the infallible Exalt - to magically reappear, to tell him that it was alright, that he'd help, that Inigo could for once finally be at ease?
It probably isn't right to project all of that onto Roland, no matter that the other willingly agreed to viewing Inigo as a son. But Inigo can't help it. It just hits too hard on an intense desire he's carried with him for too long.
He sucks in a shakey breath and finally tilts his head up to actually be able to look at Roland - yet not pulling too far away, like he doesn't want even the hand petting his hair to disappear right now.
"Can I.. Can I still be strong, even if I rely on others..?" It's part of what makes Inigo feel like he's so weak, after all. He always tried to shove down the desire of wanting someone to help him, to save him, because it didn't feel right. He had to be strong. He had to be the one to save others, and couldn't wish for the same himself. "I mean.." He closes his eyes, like he doesn't even want to visualize the memory. It's too much. "Reno said-- He said that I need to have my hand held since I'm a child.. Then that makes me weak, doesn't it..?"
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Son. Just that word makes everything Roland says so much more powerful. After all.. Isn't it what Inigo wanted all along, all this time? How many times did he lie there awake at night, too alert too sleep? Hearing the Risen in the distance, knowing that there would be no rest, and just desperately wishing for his father - the infallible Exalt - to magically reappear, to tell him that it was alright, that he'd help, that Inigo could for once finally be at ease?
It probably isn't right to project all of that onto Roland, no matter that the other willingly agreed to viewing Inigo as a son. But Inigo can't help it. It just hits too hard on an intense desire he's carried with him for too long.
He sucks in a shakey breath and finally tilts his head up to actually be able to look at Roland - yet not pulling too far away, like he doesn't want even the hand petting his hair to disappear right now.
"Can I.. Can I still be strong, even if I rely on others..?" It's part of what makes Inigo feel like he's so weak, after all. He always tried to shove down the desire of wanting someone to help him, to save him, because it didn't feel right. He had to be strong. He had to be the one to save others, and couldn't wish for the same himself. "I mean.." He closes his eyes, like he doesn't even want to visualize the memory. It's too much. "Reno said-- He said that I need to have my hand held since I'm a child.. Then that makes me weak, doesn't it..?"