Wash is, at his core, a soldier. A pragmatist, still. Telling her would've been terrible, for the same reasons he'd almost yelled at Miles when he found out what he'd shared with Sonia -- less about how trustworthy she is, and more about how she has too good a heart. And people like that are difficult to predict, will sacrifice themselves or let secrets slip in ways you'd never predict. He's sentimental still, though, painfully so, understands why Miles had told her -- understands why Byerly would ask. He'd requested it for her, too, only her. God, she must mean so much to him.
Wash thinks all this through, and for once, he doesn't hide it, doesn't bother with a mask. He isn't sure what to say. Byerly wouldn't want pity, would he? But it isn't pity, it's just. Sympathy. Something simpler instead, at first: ]
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Wash is, at his core, a soldier. A pragmatist, still. Telling her would've been terrible, for the same reasons he'd almost yelled at Miles when he found out what he'd shared with Sonia -- less about how trustworthy she is, and more about how she has too good a heart. And people like that are difficult to predict, will sacrifice themselves or let secrets slip in ways you'd never predict. He's sentimental still, though, painfully so, understands why Miles had told her -- understands why Byerly would ask. He'd requested it for her, too, only her. God, she must mean so much to him.
Wash thinks all this through, and for once, he doesn't hide it, doesn't bother with a mask. He isn't sure what to say. Byerly wouldn't want pity, would he? But it isn't pity, it's just. Sympathy. Something simpler instead, at first: ]
That does seem like Miles.
[ But then a little more real. ]
I don't envy where you are.