Thunder Dome deja vu

lips quivered, another pitiful sniffle that's masked by a clap of thunder. he curls into himself, head hanging, teeth gritting together. the pain was searing, overwhelming, and he was allowing it to swallow him whole. he couldn't meet those soft, sympathetic eyes, not when he imagined they were glaring at him with malice, with disappointment, as his mother once did. "you don't understand." he growled, whined. he choked on another sob, his eyes screwed shut. if he kept them closed, maybe the torrent of tears would stop. maybe she would disappear, and he'd be left alone again.

he doesn't deserve this kindness, and he mistakes it as pity. it makes him angrier. all anyone had ever shown him was pity or disdain. he certainly didn't want it from a stranger. a small part of him feels terrible, being so spiteful toward this woman. but the larger part of him sneers, reminds him that she doesn't care. he means nothing to her, so why would she?

"i deserve to be alone! you don't know what i've done." he rasped, voice cracking beneath the weight of his turmoil. the storm rages around them, fluctuating as if matching the violent tides of his mood. but all he can hear is the hissed words of his mother, and all he can feel is the ghost of a bite from his father. it's all consuming, detrimental. his teeth ache, as he wishes to sink them into his own flesh, to distract himself, or maybe to inflict the pain he believes he deserves. "i don't want your pity."