[ The pain he feels for Viktor when he hears that defeat in his voice is palpable, threaded with guilt for having to lean into this wound just to get what he needs. And so the relief from that promise isn't at all immediate, though eventually the tension across his body begins to lessen. He has to trust that Viktor means it, that he understands the real danger now that the Free Cities have proven that his safeguards aren't enough to stop them from taking what they want.
He hates that Viktor had to learn this lesson.
This isn't a victory. He isn't relieved. He's afraid.
He wants to argue, to say that Viktor doesn't have to do anything. But he knows that's pointless right now. There's a short span of silence again as he continues to hold onto him, then: ]
no subject
He hates that Viktor had to learn this lesson.
This isn't a victory. He isn't relieved. He's afraid.
He wants to argue, to say that Viktor doesn't have to do anything. But he knows that's pointless right now. There's a short span of silence again as he continues to hold onto him, then: ]
What do you need now?
[ Right now. What can he do? ]