[ Takeshi touches him. Such a small, simple thing, just a cradle for his chin, but Stephen's breath goes shallow. His heart thuds like he's in peril.
It's only fair. He's terrified.
Fifteen words is all he has to use in the end. Fifteen words to first ring tight, then abruptly twist loose every little knot Stephen's tied himself into over the last long, lonely week. I wont ever look away. God. Oh, God.
There's something tremulous in the tweak of his brow as it hits. As blood vessels dilate abruptly, cast a thrill shuddering outward from deep in his chest. He answers it with an unsteady breath, mouth opening around words he hasn't chosen yet.
Finally, when seconds have stretched too thin to bear his silence any more, he wills himself to nod. Tiny. Impossible to miss. ]
—Okay.
[ It's a nothing word, all he can find as he grapples with what he's just been given. But an answer. An answer.
no subject
It's only fair. He's terrified.
Fifteen words is all he has to use in the end. Fifteen words to first ring tight, then abruptly twist loose every little knot Stephen's tied himself into over the last long, lonely week. I wont ever look away. God. Oh, God.
There's something tremulous in the tweak of his brow as it hits. As blood vessels dilate abruptly, cast a thrill shuddering outward from deep in his chest. He answers it with an unsteady breath, mouth opening around words he hasn't chosen yet.
Finally, when seconds have stretched too thin to bear his silence any more, he wills himself to nod. Tiny. Impossible to miss. ]
—Okay.
[ It's a nothing word, all he can find as he grapples with what he's just been given. But an answer. An answer.
Yes, please. ]