It... stung a little, to reach out and ask for trust, and to realize that it wasn't ready to be given. A part of him wanted to ask why. He really hadn't made any progress since Bulba admitted just how long he'd hid his sexuality out of fear, had he? This was still the exact same motive, wasn't it? Bulba still believed that Char's love for his brother was weaker than his grudges.
Not exactly an unreasonable thing to believe, was it? Char already suspected that Bulba had taken being an innocent casualty of Char's trainer-attachment issues as a personal rejection, and he certainly hadn't forgotten just how selfishly he'd handled that whole coming-out situation. He'd gotten a little too comfortable with the small victory that hug had brought him; being reminded once again how little his ineffectual efforts had meant quickly put him back into his place. His crimes weren't going to be forgiven on the merits of a few futile little struggles.
That's just the way things are. He wasn't going to let the knowledge show, wasn't gonna get all melodramatic-poor-me-Charmeleon over it. His actions had consequences, and he deserved to bear them. This, like all things, was about Bulba, not Char's stupid little internal issues.
"...That's fine, kid." That's all there was to say, really. "Listen, I don't think I can keep myself awake much longer. If y'got something else you'd rather be doin'--" Bulba, after all, was probably still worried about Vinnie. Maybe Marie too, but that was up for debate. "--then I won't care."
i punch u
Not exactly an unreasonable thing to believe, was it? Char already suspected that Bulba had taken being an innocent casualty of Char's trainer-attachment issues as a personal rejection, and he certainly hadn't forgotten just how selfishly he'd handled that whole coming-out situation. He'd gotten a little too comfortable with the small victory that hug had brought him; being reminded once again how little his ineffectual efforts had meant quickly put him back into his place. His crimes weren't going to be forgiven on the merits of a few futile little struggles.
That's just the way things are. He wasn't going to let the knowledge show, wasn't gonna get all melodramatic-poor-me-Charmeleon over it. His actions had consequences, and he deserved to bear them. This, like all things, was about Bulba, not Char's stupid little internal issues.
"...That's fine, kid." That's all there was to say, really. "Listen, I don't think I can keep myself awake much longer. If y'got something else you'd rather be doin'--" Bulba, after all, was probably still worried about Vinnie. Maybe Marie too, but that was up for debate. "--then I won't care."