[ But he stares at the shaking hand reaching out for his.
Who... was it, exactly, who'd said it so confidently not a few minutes ago? "I'll guide you. Don't let go of my hand." And yet here he is, cowering again, as though he would bolt from the slightest scare.
He isn't the only one who's seen horrible things. Revisited moments in his life he wanted to shut away for good. And Ganymede is still here, trying to calm him down, with his own wounds still more fresh and worse by far.
Michel finally draws in a deep breath and reaches out to take that hand. His fingers, when they curl around Ganymede's, are firm and gentle. He gives him a tiny tug to resume pulling him towards the exit in silence. It's a long pause before he can find any words of his own, his voice as rough as his grip is careful. ]
2/2
Who... was it, exactly, who'd said it so confidently not a few minutes ago? "I'll guide you. Don't let go of my hand." And yet here he is, cowering again, as though he would bolt from the slightest scare.
He isn't the only one who's seen horrible things. Revisited moments in his life he wanted to shut away for good. And Ganymede is still here, trying to calm him down, with his own wounds still more fresh and worse by far.
Michel finally draws in a deep breath and reaches out to take that hand. His fingers, when they curl around Ganymede's, are firm and gentle. He gives him a tiny tug to resume pulling him towards the exit in silence. It's a long pause before he can find any words of his own, his voice as rough as his grip is careful. ]
...We're nearly there.