Seeing fear and wariness on Kel's face should have moved him into action, if he hadn't been fighting his own share of oppressive emotions. Some escaped on a shaking breath, released after Kel's nod. Some lay in the fingers of his outstretched hand. But then the apparition-that-wasn't spoke again and reached out for him.
"Fuck," Rance breathed. As he did, he clasped their hands together, grip tight. Without waiting to see what reaction he got, he used the grip to pull Kel close, stepping forward as he did to meet in the middle. The move trapped their clasped hands between them and Rance wrapped his other arm around Kel's back in an impulsive, fierce embrace.
"Fuck," he repeated with more emphasis. He closed his eyes, feeling the solidity and warmth of the body against him, his mind chanting 'he's real, he's real'. The fact that his clothes were getting soaked was of little importance compared to everything else. He wanted to ask questions, shout gratitude to gods who couldn't hear him, laugh and cry. Instead, what escaped the chaos of his thoughts was an emotion-thick, "You cut your hair."
"Fuck," Rance breathed. As he did, he clasped their hands together, grip tight. Without waiting to see what reaction he got, he used the grip to pull Kel close, stepping forward as he did to meet in the middle. The move trapped their clasped hands between them and Rance wrapped his other arm around Kel's back in an impulsive, fierce embrace.
"Fuck," he repeated with more emphasis. He closed his eyes, feeling the solidity and warmth of the body against him, his mind chanting 'he's real, he's real'. The fact that his clothes were getting soaked was of little importance compared to everything else. He wanted to ask questions, shout gratitude to gods who couldn't hear him, laugh and cry. Instead, what escaped the chaos of his thoughts was an emotion-thick, "You cut your hair."
