[ It would be nice if he could see Ganymede's expression from here. That would be the surest way to know if he was doing this wrong. Having to interpret body language is a challenge he doesn't need, on top of his own fundamental clumsiness with people...
But Ganymede's voice is soft. And then Ganymede is reaching out to wrap him in an answering hug that makes him freeze in place in surprise yet again. It feels like a gesture meant for someone else, but at the same time, surreally natural. If he had been born into a world only slightly different than the one he grew up in... by this age, this kind of thing would long since have been trivial to him, wouldn't it? ]
I-I...[ He clears his throat, as though that were the problem. As though it's impossible that something this simple would fluster him. ] ...I don't mind.
[ He can't relax. But despite the unease, the tension isn't unwelcome, either. The warmth of Ganymede snuggled against him, the rise and fall of each breath, the knowledge that -- inexplicably -- Ganymede seems to feel better like this... it's all so painfully gentle. ]
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But Ganymede's voice is soft. And then Ganymede is reaching out to wrap him in an answering hug that makes him freeze in place in surprise yet again. It feels like a gesture meant for someone else, but at the same time, surreally natural. If he had been born into a world only slightly different than the one he grew up in... by this age, this kind of thing would long since have been trivial to him, wouldn't it? ]
I-I...[ He clears his throat, as though that were the problem. As though it's impossible that something this simple would fluster him. ] ...I don't mind.
[ He can't relax. But despite the unease, the tension isn't unwelcome, either. The warmth of Ganymede snuggled against him, the rise and fall of each breath, the knowledge that -- inexplicably -- Ganymede seems to feel better like this... it's all so painfully gentle. ]