[ Even if she can't express her exhaustion, he understands with that one look how she feels. They've both been running, fighting, these unseen forces for so long that it's ingrained so deeply into their bones that it's all they know. No matter where they are, survival is all they understand. And that goes hand in hand with the fear that they can't dig out of their skin.
When River's head meets his shoulder again, he rests his head comfortingly atop it. Even if she can't see it, her whispered "thank you" makes the corners of his lips lift sadly. It hardly feels like something she should be thanking him for because he doesn't feel like he's done anything at all. He can't shield her from the thoughts that plague her mind. All he can do is try.
Silently he reaches out, threading their fingers together and squeezing them tight. A beat later he offers up another response she had taught him, quietly with the inexperience of someone unfamiliar with the language but no less sincere - ]
🎀!
When River's head meets his shoulder again, he rests his head comfortingly atop it. Even if she can't see it, her whispered "thank you" makes the corners of his lips lift sadly. It hardly feels like something she should be thanking him for because he doesn't feel like he's done anything at all. He can't shield her from the thoughts that plague her mind. All he can do is try.
Silently he reaches out, threading their fingers together and squeezing them tight. A beat later he offers up another response she had taught him, quietly with the inexperience of someone unfamiliar with the language but no less sincere - ]
Méi guān xi.