AU: The Grey Rose

Context: Sabre wonders if he should forgive the people that hurt him.

This one's comforting as a bit of an apology for my Day 2 prompt XD

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[3rd Person POV]

The rain made a consistent drum everywhere around him, the doorway leading to the balcony preventing him from getting wet. Sabre observed as dew gathered on the plants outside, then rolling off the leaves as it fell to the ground, presumably landing in puddles. He was deep in thought, so much so that he didn't hear the Red Leader approach. He didn't notice he was there until he saw his velvety red coat out of the corner of his eye, and turns to face him.

"There you are." The Leader says with a warm smile. "I just wanted to let you know that dinner is ready, Jasper made steak and potatoes."

"Oh, okay. Thank you." Sabre replies, turning back to look at the rain. "I'll... go get some in a minute."

Sabre returns to silence, but the Red Leader looks concerned. Joining Sabre in the doorway, he stands next to him as he continues to watch the rain with a conflicted expression.

"Is everything alright, Sabre?" He asks. "You seem troubled by something."

Sabre doesn't answer for a moment, trying to figure something out.

"I... I've been thinking. About things." He says.

"What kind of things?"

"...The others."

"The oth- Oh... did something happen?"

"Not really. Just... I've been learning a lot, and one of the things I learned recently is how complicated forgiving actually is." Sabre replies, looking down. "Some things say that forgiveness is how you find peace and that you need to forgive so you can heal, but you shouldn't forget what they've done. But others say that there are situations where forgiveness isn't an option, that in some cases it's not deserved. And then there's the added question of what the situation was like from the other side of the story."

Sabre tries thinking of what to say next, and he takes a few attempts before taking a deep breath and calming down.

"I know... that the others hurt me. They put me through things that they shouldn't have. But for a little while I've been struggling with figuring out whether I should forgive them or not." Sabre continues. "I don't know if I should either because I need the closure so I can have peace, or if I should because they were fighting the worst of a war and I had just been their enemy so they had some reason to do that, or if it's a situation where forgiving them isn't an option. I don't know how to feel, or how I should feel about any of those options. What if I pick the wrong one? What if I pick the best choice, but I still feel bad?"

Sabre stares down at the floor, looking even more conflicted. Trying to weigh out the options in his head, his eyes slightly dart back and forth.

The Red Leader simply looks up at him, and with a comforting smile, places a hand on Sabre's arm to snap him out of it and begins to speak.

"Well, there's not really a 'good' or 'bad' choice when it comes to forgiving someone. The only thing that matters is if it helps you move on." He explains. "Whichever one of the outcomes you pick should be the one that makes you happy, even if it doesn't do the same for others. You don't even have to forgive them at all, and not because it's not an option. You were the one hurt by their actions, so you are the one that decides whether you forgive those actions or not, and nothing outside of that decision has any power over that."

Sabre just stares for a moment, then smiles. A little more relaxed, he stands up straight as the Leader takes his hand off his arm.

"Thanks. I... think I needed to hear that." He says.

"It's no problem, Sabre." The Red Leader replies.

"I'm still not sure what to do, though..."

"You don't have to be. You don't have to decide at all, really. And if you do end up choosing one thing and deciding it's not the way you want to go, you can always change your mind. This is your life, and you decide how you want to live."

The Red Leader then turns back towards the door, looking at Sabre, waiting.

"Now, let's get dinner before it gets cold, shall we?" He asks. "Or do you want to stay up here a little longer?"

"Nah, I'll go with you." Sabre answers, following as the Leader leaves the room and heads to the stairway.

Although, Sabre still smiles as he walks. Something the Red Leader had said echoed through his mind like a wondrous symphony. It reminded him that the others didn't have any control over him anymore, no say in what he was or where he belonged.

This is your life, and you decide how you want to live.