Nero screwed his face up. “Maybe… In some ways.”

“In others?”

Nero released an elongated breath. “We’re all victims of someone else’s hatred, Zarya. And survivors of our own bad decisions. Had Darling not gone through what he has, he would never have been able to love you to the depth that he does. Plain and simple.”

“But he no longer trusts me.”

Nero laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. “For better or worse, our pasts and experiences are what define us. But they don’t have to rule us. In time, all hurts can be forgiven. It’s only when you add to them that they can’t.”

She paused at his unexpected wisdom. At first glance, Nero looked like any other live-by-the-crotch-of-his-pants Tavali rogue. And yet…

“There’s a lot more to you than you show most people, isn’t there?”

He shrugged nonchalantly. “That’s true for most,” he said with a wicked gleam in his eyes. “But I’m a lot older than I look. I’ve lived through things far worse than Darling has. You’d be amazed at how much forgiveness the heart is capable of.”

“Love isn’t what scares me,” she admitted. “It’s hatred I fear.” She jerked her chin toward Darling. “And I’ve seen what it’s capable of more times than I’ve seen people forgive. It’s that cold viciousness that drives out all humanity that terrifies me. I don’t want him to ever feel that for me again.”

“Have faith in yourself, Zarya. And have faith in Darling.”

Before she could comment, the door opened to admit Syn and Maris.

Zarya fell silent. While she didn’t mind Maris knowing her fears, she wasn’t as sure about Syn. Darling trusted him implicitly. But she didn’t have his allegiance and she barely knew him.

Nero inclined his head to them. “I’m going to rest for a while. I’ll be nearby if anything changes.”

“Later.” Syn moved to check Darling’s readouts while Maris handed her a bottle of water.

“How are you holding up?” he asked her.

“I’ll be better once he’s awake.”

Maris squeezed her hand before he went to stand in the far corner.

“So how did you meet Nero?” she asked Syn. “Through Darling?”

“Through prison,” he said in a matter-of-fact tone like someone who was answering with, “at the market” or “at a friend’s house…”

She froze at that unexpected answer. Was he serious?

“He’s not joking,” Maris said as if he, too, were Trisani.

Still, she was aghast that both of them were felons. “Do I want to know what you two were in for?”

Syn’s eyes flashed with anger. “Being born. Both of us. You’d be amazed at how many people the League locks up for no reason whatsoever.”

“Actually, I wouldn’t. I’ve heard the stories.”

“Yeah, well, I lived them. Believe me, it’s much better having them told to you.” Syn made a few adjustments, before he turned toward them. “I’m going to rest, too. I’ve got the alarms set. They should have a bed in here for you soon. If you need anything, buzz me.”