[They open their mouth to refute the words, because she's not fine, she's not fine at all, but then they -
They have her arms around them. It's something - it's different, it's different, it's so different and they've never felt it like this, not in so long and their heart thuds sickeningly in their chest because it doesn't matter if she's hesitant, if they can tell how she's still not sure what to make of them, how she must be so afraid at the moment, but they set the plate down - gently, set it down - and then, slowly, tremblingly, they -
They hug her back. They're afraid, and she's afraid, and nothing about any of this is okay. But they...they feel safe.
She has them.
She's got them.
There's a new tingle gathering in the corners of their eyes. When they finally speak, it's halting, and the short intake of breath is like a knife to their esophagus, but the words are shaking, agonizing, aching with the sense of longing that has, just for a moment - abated.]
no subject
They have her arms around them. It's something - it's different, it's different, it's so different and they've never felt it like this, not in so long and their heart thuds sickeningly in their chest because it doesn't matter if she's hesitant, if they can tell how she's still not sure what to make of them, how she must be so afraid at the moment, but they set the plate down - gently, set it down - and then, slowly, tremblingly, they -
They hug her back. They're afraid, and she's afraid, and nothing about any of this is okay. But they...they feel safe.
She has them.
She's got them.
There's a new tingle gathering in the corners of their eyes. When they finally speak, it's halting, and the short intake of breath is like a knife to their esophagus, but the words are shaking, agonizing, aching with the sense of longing that has, just for a moment - abated.]
...thank you.