#(literally had lines in the novels along these lines)

I love a character raised to be a weapon as much as the next guy. But what really gets me is a character raised to be a shield. Who can’t fathom being needed—or even being wanted— beyond keeping others safe. Who believe they are alive only to insure someone doesn’t die. no matter the cost. Characters who self-sacrifice not because they think they deserve it, but because no one else does deserve it, and it’s their job to protect.

Characters who’ve been told that’s why your important. Your worth something because this other person/ thing is important, and you are here solely to keep them safe.

Bonus points if it’s not a legitimate job they’ve been given. Maybe at one point it was, but now that they are free from it, they haven’t given up that mentality. No one is forcing or asking them to do this, but they need to. They need to in order to be deserving.

#honda kiku #izumi koushirou #advs #novels koushiro #shield #shields #theme: self sacrifice #(literally had lines in the novels along these lines)#(maybe not necessarily 'raised' this way by {parents} specifically)#(but {society})#(also with how the fandom tends to perceive him as)#lbr #(meanwhile Kiku was simultaneously both Weapon *and* Shield)#('raised as a Weapon' initially + turns Shield in between but more specifically post 1950s re the self sacrificing maybe)#(also basically every single)#autistic characters #self worth #self value #productivity #anti perfectionism #you are worth more than what you can produce #pretty much #too many to tag #i cant wait for an old fav to potential go down in the next chapters after they directly hinted theyd sacrifice themself for the mains #({who arent even their 'friends' yet in this verse if we get really technical because they *just met*+*havent had time to bond more*})#(and 'expected' it to happen {earlier on} and were 'preparing' themself for it)