Jack stepped forward but the movement was more definitive than aggressive, like he was putting his foot down on something. It was a gesture that effused sincerity.
"Saving this world isn't our biggest priority. Saving kids is. You shouldn't be here when it's this dangerous."
He shook his head. "It isn't like the people here magically matter more than people anywhere else. You're just as important to us as every other kid here."
Whether Howard believed it or not, it was the truth. They were children - teenage ones, but still children. They were in their world right now, near them, and that meant they were under their protection. Simple as that.
"No one fights unless they want to - and unless they're old enough -" he added to Mami. He turned back to Howard, "And no one stays unless they want to, either. We're getting you home."
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"Saving this world isn't our biggest priority. Saving kids is. You shouldn't be here when it's this dangerous."
He shook his head. "It isn't like the people here magically matter more than people anywhere else. You're just as important to us as every other kid here."
Whether Howard believed it or not, it was the truth. They were children - teenage ones, but still children. They were in their world right now, near them, and that meant they were under their protection. Simple as that.
"No one fights unless they want to - and unless they're old enough -" he added to Mami. He turned back to Howard, "And no one stays unless they want to, either. We're getting you home."