[There are good people there--but Rip does not count himself among their number.
No one else would hesitate, he suspects. Not when they catch the first stream of bubbles leaking from parted lips, nor the way the body thrashes, just that once, shattering the stillness of the water around them. No one else would see that and pause, their hand resting on the bag still at their hip, holding the food needed to ensure others could live, could move from room to room.
Time continues to move; Rip's own lungs are starting to burn, because it's been too long for him too.
How many people suffer if he saves this one life, this one child?
How long will this image be burned into his mind, should he continue on regardless?
This is hardly the first time he's faced such choices throughout the years he's spent traveling aboard the Waverider. Once upon a time, it might have been a matter of course to weigh the impact in numbers and results, to consider that the child would no doubt revive as per Wonderland's rules and leave them to their unfortunate fate.
So much has changed since then. Rip would like to think he might have, too.
He doesn't realize they are attempting to swim away from him; he instead thinks they are simply trying to swim. Rip follows, his strides longer by nature of his size, and his turn his arms stronger.
He knows where the next room with air is. It's simply a matter of taking hold of the child, guiding them where they need to go to live.
He reaches out once he thinks he's close enough to do just that.]
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No one else would hesitate, he suspects. Not when they catch the first stream of bubbles leaking from parted lips, nor the way the body thrashes, just that once, shattering the stillness of the water around them. No one else would see that and pause, their hand resting on the bag still at their hip, holding the food needed to ensure others could live, could move from room to room.
Time continues to move; Rip's own lungs are starting to burn, because it's been too long for him too.
How many people suffer if he saves this one life, this one child?
How long will this image be burned into his mind, should he continue on regardless?
This is hardly the first time he's faced such choices throughout the years he's spent traveling aboard the Waverider. Once upon a time, it might have been a matter of course to weigh the impact in numbers and results, to consider that the child would no doubt revive as per Wonderland's rules and leave them to their unfortunate fate.
So much has changed since then. Rip would like to think he might have, too.
He doesn't realize they are attempting to swim away from him; he instead thinks they are simply trying to swim. Rip follows, his strides longer by nature of his size, and his turn his arms stronger.
He knows where the next room with air is. It's simply a matter of taking hold of the child, guiding them where they need to go to live.
He reaches out once he thinks he's close enough to do just that.]