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"So you don't... hate me?"
The question comes from an exhausted, aged Arlin, weary and injured and resting on Chip's hammock. Chip himself is worse for wear, hair disheveled, bandages around his torso — the rescue was not smooth, but it was successful.
"Of course not, Arlin!"
Chip's tone is incredulous. Why would he! My gods, why would Arlin ask? It's clear in his bright eyes just how dedicated he was. "I've spent this whole time looking for you, ever since the Midnight Rose sank. I never stopped."
These words are not comforting to Arlin.
He turns his head away from Chip. The ship is nice, for a young man like him. Damaged though; the young Tidestrider patched up the holes with ice as a temporary fix before they could find land again. And his crew... they're a good lot. Ferin and Tidestrider. Who would've thought.
But all of them suffered injuries and damage. This wasn't easy. And all for him?
Arlin couldn't stop replaying that vision he had a decade ago. Of Chip, fully grown, running a dagger through him, hatred and resentment in his eyes.
He sees Chip now. There should be resentment.
"You shouldn't have."
Chip is dressed like him. He's got his tattoos. He's got the suspenders and the striped pants. He's a walking copy of Arlin, he's a pirate, and he never let go.
Chip looks hurt at the remark. "What? You guys are my family, of course I never stopped—"
"I ruined your life, kid!" Arlin says. "Look at you! I shouldn't have done this to you. That was wrong of me. I've had time to think about it now, and..."
Before him is a child. He may be a man now, captaining a crew, but before him is a scrawny 19 year old, and it's his fault.
"You should've been doing normal things, Chip."
He doesn't want to see the hurt in Chip's eyes as he says this, as the emotion leaks through his own voice.
"You could've been safe, living a normal life, but I took that from you. It was selfish of me to take you."
Chip shakes his head furiously. "No, no Arlin, you gave me a life! I wouldn't be anywhere without you —"
"Chip! Chip isn't even your name! I'm sorry kid. I'm sorry for what I've done to you. I should've never picked you up."
He doesn't understand how much that shatters him.