Choices. Decisions.
Michael never liked making them, much less even thinking about them… and when it came to making the right ones… sometimes it was hard to say if he had made any at all.
It was more Lilith's specialty, anyway. Never needing to brood or to second-guess whatever may confront her. Somehow, every choice she made always seemed to be the best. He admired that about her. One of the very few aspects of her that he could never hope to match.
And right then, he needed that foresight - between the lie and the truth - he needed to choose right.
What was the most logical, the most sensible, the most… right. It was the least he could do now as a friend.
"You'd pay back everything?" Michael asked after a while. "Every single thing you stole?"
Really, really considered splitting this chapter in two.
But ultimately, I decided I can't do you all dirty again. You've waited long enough - and we're officially done with Michael's origins! For now anyway. For now. Still got more planned somewhere down the line. But anyway, next chapter onwards, it's back to the present.
Rejoice. :)