She grips him tightly, almost enough to drive the blood out of his hand, and he stares down at it for a moment in silence. She has caught him just quickly enough that he has no defense to offer and would have to muster defensiveness, it is an odd position to be in, and he isn't certain how to react.
He is poor at providing comfort, at least sincere comfort, and he can hardly take from her now--can he? His hand does not burn where she grips it firmly but he is still as tense as a drawn bow.
It is less decision than impulse that drives him to move and, at the moment, he doesn't have the wherewithal to decide against it. He twists his hand and takes hers as he turns, yanks her forward against him, and engulfs her in his other arm. It is a firm embrace that becomes tighter and just a touch desperate as it lingers. A moment after he drops back down to the bed, her in tow, and just remains there, like that.
He cannot close his eyes or he will see his mother, but he can do this, whatever this is. It is protection, maybe, or just clinging like a child--he is uncertain, it is simply something he requires.
no subject
He is poor at providing comfort, at least sincere comfort, and he can hardly take from her now--can he? His hand does not burn where she grips it firmly but he is still as tense as a drawn bow.
It is less decision than impulse that drives him to move and, at the moment, he doesn't have the wherewithal to decide against it. He twists his hand and takes hers as he turns, yanks her forward against him, and engulfs her in his other arm. It is a firm embrace that becomes tighter and just a touch desperate as it lingers. A moment after he drops back down to the bed, her in tow, and just remains there, like that.
He cannot close his eyes or he will see his mother, but he can do this, whatever this is. It is protection, maybe, or just clinging like a child--he is uncertain, it is simply something he requires.