of all the paths i could have taken

“I never,” he starts, struggling to find the words for the thing inside of him.Thea just waits, lifting her head slightly to watch him better.He starts again, “I never thought I would have this, or at least a version of this. I thought I would die in battle, for the Brotherhood, for humanity. I never gave the future much personal thought beyond the Brotherhood’s mission.” Danse stumbles here, throat wanting to close, “Then I thought I would die by either one of my former comrades or Maxson himself when the truth about my existence came to light.”Duncan stirs slightly, eyebrows scrunching up, and Danse moves a hand just enough to brush against his arm, watching as those eyebrows relax, the boy’s falling back into peaceful sleep. “Some days I wonder if I am worthy of this,” he admits quietly.(Worthy of being alive, worthy of love, worthy of friendship, worthy of calling this place home.)