[ he listens quietly as she talks - patiently so, even, as he fusses at the cuffs of his sleeves, just for the sensation of having something to do with his hands. ]

...I see. [ the weight of that burden was never forced on lu bixing, but - in a way, it was. monoeye hawk just lied to him about it. lied about who his other parents were. lied about his connection to the project itself. he's always been too smart not to put the pieces together, though, and it rings true to what harrow says, too. he was never taught he had to keep the secrets; he just had to keep them, and keep the fact that he knew from his father, too. ]

...I was terrified, to tell Lin. I tried everything I could to get out of it, and we never talked about it afterwards. I still don't know how he feels about it, and frankly, I don't think I want to know. He's the person I trust the most in the world, and even then, every time I think about it, it makes me feel sick. I'd rather bear the burden myself, and to be honest, if I could go back in time and stop that from happening, I probably would have.

[ ugh. he shakes his head, dispelling the last of that uncomfortable thought and pushing it away, turning instead to actually look at harrow, now, head ducked, mouth lifted just slightly at the corner. ]

... Whether it's better or worse, your secret is safe with me, Harrowhark. No end of everything in sight.