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[neverjoinyou]

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[tetractys]

Bill half-turns.

"WHY ARE PEOPLE EVEN WORTH IT, TO YOU?"

[neverjoinyou]

Luke has never had to ask himself that. He wonders if he should have, or what it means that he hasn't. He's not sure he has a good enough answer for Bill.

"I guess," he says after a long moment, "because, if I'm worth it, I have to believe other people are. I'm no different from them."

[tetractys]

"YOU'RE DIFFERENT FROM THEM IN A LOT OF WAYS. HAVEN'T YOU HAD PEOPLE PICKING YOU OUT FROM THE CROWD YOUR WHOLE LIFE? NOT EVEN ALWAYS IN A GOOD WAY!"

Bill drums his fingers.

"I'M NOT GOING TO TALK YOU INTO THIS, I KNOW."

[neverjoinyou]

"That's not what I mean," Luke says, shaking his head. "Sure, I'm different. But I'm not better. I'm not worth more. Being different or better or worse at something doesn't change that equation. Because if it does, there's no place to stop. No balance you can possibly find, no math that makes sense."

He stops, expression softening.

"But... thank you. I think."