You don't look fine. You look hurt, echoed in his head. He knew she meant physically - let that fact comfort him - but it didn't change the pain he saw in her eyes or the way she shook in his arms like she'd only barely been holding it together. As much as he wanted to bask in the confession that he was her safe place, all Zavien could focus on was helping her right now.
There was no reason for him to anticipate the drama she dropped in his lap, and Zavien had to take the information in stride, piecing together what he could - not liking any of it. He enjoyed Colt and was conflicted over Flora, but they were both Soh's friends, and he hated the idea of her having to watch them fight, for any of it to inexplicably involve her. Logic demanded more information, but Zavien could already feel anger forming, furious at their audacity to put Soh in this kind of distress. What kind of friends were they?
He tried to keep a level head, still cradling her face as he whispered softly, "In everything you just said, I didn't hear anything you did wrong." He knew Soh and he knew she wouldn't intentionally cause a fight, especially not between friends. "Don't apologize." His fingers brushed over her cheeks like he was swiping away tears, his heart breaking to see her this distraught.
With a gentle tug, he pulled her through the doorway, shutting it behind them as he led her towards the couch, maintaining as much physical contact as possible through the transition. "Come on." Sol cooed a sad greeting from the corner - curling up with the bone Zavien had stress bought - while Zavien settled them into the cushioned safety of the couch. His arms were still wrapped tight around her, grounding, present without constricting or overbearing. There was a looseness to his hold, giving her space to feel, to make space if she needed it, to curl closer. It was echoed in the lull of his words as he asked, "Do you want to talk about it? Or do you just want me to hold you and tell you how much I love you?"
There was no reason for him to anticipate the drama she dropped in his lap, and Zavien had to take the information in stride, piecing together what he could - not liking any of it. He enjoyed Colt and was conflicted over Flora, but they were both Soh's friends, and he hated the idea of her having to watch them fight, for any of it to inexplicably involve her. Logic demanded more information, but Zavien could already feel anger forming, furious at their audacity to put Soh in this kind of distress. What kind of friends were they?
He tried to keep a level head, still cradling her face as he whispered softly, "In everything you just said, I didn't hear anything you did wrong." He knew Soh and he knew she wouldn't intentionally cause a fight, especially not between friends. "Don't apologize." His fingers brushed over her cheeks like he was swiping away tears, his heart breaking to see her this distraught.
With a gentle tug, he pulled her through the doorway, shutting it behind them as he led her towards the couch, maintaining as much physical contact as possible through the transition. "Come on." Sol cooed a sad greeting from the corner - curling up with the bone Zavien had stress bought - while Zavien settled them into the cushioned safety of the couch. His arms were still wrapped tight around her, grounding, present without constricting or overbearing. There was a looseness to his hold, giving her space to feel, to make space if she needed it, to curl closer. It was echoed in the lull of his words as he asked, "Do you want to talk about it? Or do you just want me to hold you and tell you how much I love you?"
Zavien
