He started to reach for the compress, intending to put fresh, cold water on it but Soh's words stopped him mid-reach. He slowly subsided back and looked up at her, his hand returning to cradle his mug as he watched her in silence with worried eyes as she broke off. Unable to see where she was injured beneath her clothes, he settled for resting his hand on the top of her foot and giving it a light squeeze of reassurance until she found her voice again.
Her gaze found his and he opened his mouth in instinctive, vehement protest of her fear--
And then shut it with a click of his teeth as he swallowed his fiery indignation and forced himself to give a small shake of his head instead. Raising his voice had never made his dogs feel better and he figured it wouldn't help Soh, either, so after a moment he cleared his throat and tried again, his voice soft, if gruff with emotion. "Y'came back safe, didn't ya? Not comin' back at all... that's the only thing I couldn't've forgiven."
Her gaze found his and he opened his mouth in instinctive, vehement protest of her fear--
And then shut it with a click of his teeth as he swallowed his fiery indignation and forced himself to give a small shake of his head instead. Raising his voice had never made his dogs feel better and he figured it wouldn't help Soh, either, so after a moment he cleared his throat and tried again, his voice soft, if gruff with emotion. "Y'came back safe, didn't ya? Not comin' back at all... that's the only thing I couldn't've forgiven."
