[ Jesper lets him off easy, doesn't push too hard, and Steve appreciates it. Whatever does or doesn't exist between him and Sam, it's something that's lingered at the back of his mind but that he hasn't quite known how to navigate or pick apart. Maybe he should bring it up to him, but at the same time, they seem perfectly comfortable as things are.
When Jesper begins to explain that Sam's taken an almost fatherly (or maybe big brother) type role for him here, watching out for him to the point that Jesper considers him family, Steve's face shifts into another of those rare warm smiles. Steve doesn't know Jesper all that well, but he can guess that he'd need some adult guidance here and there, and Sam would have been the perfect person for it. ]
I'm sure he'd be glad to hear that... Maybe you can tell him when he comes back to his brand-new room.
[ Or maybe Jesper has already made this clear to Sam, but it's another reminder of just how close they as Summoned can become, and how even if their time here might be limited, that's no reason to remain standoffish or not make friends. To not express how they feel. ]
But you're right, he puts everyone else before himself, and it's a bad habit. I try to call him out for it, and he does the same for me. [ As friends, he'd thought, but maybe it could be more than that. It's something he's realizing, more and more, that he needs to figure out.
Jesper lets him dodge that whole subject rather gracefully, and Steve nods. It's true, Sam could find someone else. Steve has less faith that he would, but that's fine. You don't stumble upon the right partner every day, and to be honest, if it was going to be anyone—
He's not going to overthink this right now. ]
Thank you, Jesper. Really. I'll make sure to find a way to make it up to you sometime, for my part at least. [ Because while Jesper might owe Sam and want to show him his appreciation, that isn't really the case for Steve. ]
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When Jesper begins to explain that Sam's taken an almost fatherly (or maybe big brother) type role for him here, watching out for him to the point that Jesper considers him family, Steve's face shifts into another of those rare warm smiles. Steve doesn't know Jesper all that well, but he can guess that he'd need some adult guidance here and there, and Sam would have been the perfect person for it. ]
I'm sure he'd be glad to hear that... Maybe you can tell him when he comes back to his brand-new room.
[ Or maybe Jesper has already made this clear to Sam, but it's another reminder of just how close they as Summoned can become, and how even if their time here might be limited, that's no reason to remain standoffish or not make friends. To not express how they feel. ]
But you're right, he puts everyone else before himself, and it's a bad habit. I try to call him out for it, and he does the same for me. [ As friends, he'd thought, but maybe it could be more than that. It's something he's realizing, more and more, that he needs to figure out.
Jesper lets him dodge that whole subject rather gracefully, and Steve nods. It's true, Sam could find someone else. Steve has less faith that he would, but that's fine. You don't stumble upon the right partner every day, and to be honest, if it was going to be anyone—
He's not going to overthink this right now. ]
Thank you, Jesper. Really. I'll make sure to find a way to make it up to you sometime, for my part at least. [ Because while Jesper might owe Sam and want to show him his appreciation, that isn't really the case for Steve. ]