shut the door & cut me open

RONIN if there's one thing i'm good at, it's surviving "Shh, you don't have to say anything," Ronin began, but before he could continue to speak, the alchemist folded into his arms. Ronin held him as much for himself as for Remi, tilting his head to rest it against unruly curls and pressing his eyes shut tightly. He felt, in that moment, just how young the other man really was, how fragile, how mistaken, how naive. For the first time in a long time, perhaps, Ronin felt like the stronger of the two of them. "I'm sorry I was gone for so long," he said quietly, gazing across at Remi as he straightened up. "If I'd been here, and you'd had someone to talk to about everything..." He frowned, leaning in to kiss his forehead. "I told you, I'm here now. We'll work through this together, okay?" Even if it hurt. Even if he wanted desperately to go out and punch one of the training dummies until it was broken in the snow. Together was all he wanted.