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[suchmiracles]

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[suchmiracles]

It's not the kind of conversation that Kurt would have preferred take place when Fern is already feeling emotionally and physically weakened, but he doesn't want to stop his young friend from unburdening himself of something that's clearly been sitting with him for a long time. He stays silent, absorbing the sight of Fern's shapeshifting with little visible surprise, able to easily put together the unspoken implications of what Fern did.

The fact that he's heard far worse confessions is, he knows, not necessarily a good thing. The scale for these things is subjective; this is clearly something that Fern regrets deeply, even if Kurt himself isn't especially phased by it. Not when he's come so close to committing similar acts, and has forgiven far worse in others.

Wordlessly, Kurt reaches out to put an arm around Fern's shoulders, a familiar physical reminder of his support.

"Fern," he begins gently, "you've been through a lot. Not just recently. But in your life, you've had to deal with so many things, hard things, and you haven't had anyone to guide you. But you clearly regret what you did, ja? And that regret shows that you are a good person, even if it doesn't always feel like it. I see that good person in you, Fern." He gently rubs the grass shoulder under his palm. "I believe in him."

[laminae]

Fern, fully expecting anger and disappointment for what he did and tried to do. That Finn isn't here doesn't matter, he did something horrible and he's been hiding it ever since he arrived in town over a year ago. Any reasonable person would hear this and understand how much of a monster he really is.

So when Kurt's arm settles around his shoulders he's in quiet shock. This is the opposite of anger, and what he says is nothing but supportive and compassionate and -

Oh.

But you clearly regret what you did.

Those words hit Fern like a freight train, and his heart sinks. He doesn't regret what he did, he regrets that he failed at it. If Finn arrived here he'd try it again, there's no doubt in his mind about that. There's... there's no way he can tell Kurt that. He can't say that he's mistaken, not unless he wants to lose him, and the thought is terrifying him into lying.

"Y... yeah," he mumbles, leaning a little more against Kurt, cementing in his mind that he's the furthest thing from a good person. "Thanks."

[suchmiracles]

There's no way for Kurt to understand what's going on in Fern's head; all he feels is his friend shift his weight against him, quietly accepting his words. If they're a little hesitant, he puts that down to tiredness, and the fact that Fern has always been somewhat reluctant to accept his optimism.

"Sehr gut," he replies gently, giving him a small squeeze. "Now, I think you should be in bed. And you should see the books I got for you, I think you'll like them."