Her gaze dropped, guilt evident in her expression. She hadn't meant to bring out those memories when she declared what happened with HYDRA a war. She didn't mean to make the scuffle sound like it was as bad as or worse than World War II or I or any other major war. She knew it wasn't. Hell, she knew it wasn't really even a war, but a fight just like he said. It just felt like one... two sides intent on destroying one another with casualties on both sides. And while she didn't witness those she grew up with slowly dying around her, she did see death and blood. She also saw her best friend bruised and weak, a victim of abuse and neglect, and another friend manipulated. So no, it wasn't a war, not really, but that didn't mean it didn't have a similar impact on her.
Not that she would tell him this. She didn't want to make it seem like she was comparing her own trauma to his. There was no comparison. Her own traumas weren't all the important and were easily hidden. His, not so much.
L.L. stood up from her stool and slowly walked over to him until they were standing face to face. She looked up at him in silence with sad eyes before reaching forward and putting her arms around him in a hug.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, her head resting on his chest with eyes closed. "I didn't mean to bring up those memories. And those dreams... You can't stop those, but..." She looked up at him, reaching a hand up to push some of his hair back behind his ear. "Stop thinking about them. Stop fearing the worst. It's hard, I know, but it's possible. Just think of right now. You and me. I'm right here, safe and sound because of you. What happens in the future is in the future, the past in the past... I want to enjoy the present. I want to enjoy it with you and I want you to as well."