When he'd asked the question, Peter hadn't been sure what kind of answer he might be expecting. He'd seen all kinds of powers so far, and with some of them, it was pretty easy to understand how they might accidentally hurt people -- Elle's electricity, or Nikki's strength. But regeneration? He'd admit, it didn't seem like something that could harm others, it seemed like something entirely self-contained.
And then Adam starts speaking, and Peter realizes he just hadn't been thinking broadly enough. He'd only been thinking about physical harm.
He'd never considered how emotional attachments while immortal would harm others. It's a sobering thought, even in the midst of his already trending-melancholy thoughts.
"I'm so sorry." It feels inadequate against the enormity of what Adam must have seen, and Peter will admit, he's still kind of grappling with the idea that Adam is centuries old. He's lived lifetimes. He's had relationships that would have lasted other people the majority of their lives. What kind of effect does that have on someone psychologically? How is Adam still stable? Does he still remember what his first wife looked like, or have centuries of memories crowded out those older memories, or does the regeneration keep his memories perfect?
Peter may very well be in for the same fate, if his copied regeneration works passively and constantly. He'll have to watch Nathan grow old and die, along with his mom, and his nephews, and everyone he's ever cared about -- he's used to death, but it's easier when it's his patients and not his own family.
Fuck. This is a terrible topic to think about right before he's supposed to try to go to sleep.
"The Company kept me in there because they kept telling me I'd hurt everyone if I was free. Did they... tell you that too? Did it work on you?"
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And then Adam starts speaking, and Peter realizes he just hadn't been thinking broadly enough. He'd only been thinking about physical harm.
He'd never considered how emotional attachments while immortal would harm others. It's a sobering thought, even in the midst of his already trending-melancholy thoughts.
"I'm so sorry." It feels inadequate against the enormity of what Adam must have seen, and Peter will admit, he's still kind of grappling with the idea that Adam is centuries old. He's lived lifetimes. He's had relationships that would have lasted other people the majority of their lives. What kind of effect does that have on someone psychologically? How is Adam still stable? Does he still remember what his first wife looked like, or have centuries of memories crowded out those older memories, or does the regeneration keep his memories perfect?
Peter may very well be in for the same fate, if his copied regeneration works passively and constantly. He'll have to watch Nathan grow old and die, along with his mom, and his nephews, and everyone he's ever cared about -- he's used to death, but it's easier when it's his patients and not his own family.
Fuck. This is a terrible topic to think about right before he's supposed to try to go to sleep.
"The Company kept me in there because they kept telling me I'd hurt everyone if I was free. Did they... tell you that too? Did it work on you?"