There's strain in her voice, and the way she words the apology...he squeezes her tightly. "I'm not upset with you for anything, Aerith," he says into her shoulder, leaning his head back into the weight of her cheek. "You had absolute power over me and you--" A wave of nausea almost bowls him over, the weight of what anyone else could have done to him too much to think about. "You kept me safe."
She kisses his temple, tells him to stay the night, and he finally starts to realize she may need this too. "I'd like that," he agrees. What he doesn't say, can't quite get into words yet, is that he's going to be here as long as she needs, too. When he sees her face soften at the sight of him, feels her touch on his wrist, he finally gives her a weak smile, one that turns into a watery kiss as she echoes his words. He'd be hard pressed to explain what it is they have between them; all he knows is she makes him feel safe and grounded and he would do anything for her.
It feels strange to be without her touch for the moments it takes to get in the tub, and when she makes to get in ahead of him, he expects her to slide back into his hold. Instead she faces him, curling around him and snuggling in close. He wordlessly folds around her, one arm cradling her shoulders to him and the other reaching across her legs to securely hold her hip. He buries his nose against her hair, letting this consume his thoughts. When she thanks him, he squeezes her, not sure what else to say, because he's not sure what he's done to be thanked for.
"If there's anything else I can do for you, you tell me," he says.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2022-11-11 04:32 am (UTC)She kisses his temple, tells him to stay the night, and he finally starts to realize she may need this too. "I'd like that," he agrees. What he doesn't say, can't quite get into words yet, is that he's going to be here as long as she needs, too. When he sees her face soften at the sight of him, feels her touch on his wrist, he finally gives her a weak smile, one that turns into a watery kiss as she echoes his words. He'd be hard pressed to explain what it is they have between them; all he knows is she makes him feel safe and grounded and he would do anything for her.
It feels strange to be without her touch for the moments it takes to get in the tub, and when she makes to get in ahead of him, he expects her to slide back into his hold. Instead she faces him, curling around him and snuggling in close. He wordlessly folds around her, one arm cradling her shoulders to him and the other reaching across her legs to securely hold her hip. He buries his nose against her hair, letting this consume his thoughts. When she thanks him, he squeezes her, not sure what else to say, because he's not sure what he's done to be thanked for.
"If there's anything else I can do for you, you tell me," he says.