[ Adrien flinched when Andyr moved towards him. Perhaps he expected another torrent of words, or perhaps he was just a highly reactive sonofabitch (probably a combination of the two) but regardless. Suddenly Andyr’s arms are around him and Adrien just stood there for a moment and blinked.
He didn’t exactly possess the natural inclination to hug back, not the way most humans did. If he was expecting an embrace he would return it but unexpected hugs? His body stiffened in a way that might suggest that the doctor was not used to random hugs. Hell, Adrien wasn’t particularly inviting of casual human contact in general!
For a moment he just stood there, hands still on the data pad where he’d finished up his note, face pressed slightly into Andyr’s shoulder, as the man had a few inches on him. Most of the human population had a few inches on him to be honest. It was the softly spoken but heart-felt gratitude spilling from the younger man’s lips that provided the next blow.
Of course Andyr was only being kind, perhaps more so than Adrien would have expected but hearing the pure relief in the man’s voice, the doctor felt another twist from Guilt’s knife. Such a little thing, just a small note, and it obviously meant so much. What did that say about Andyr and the life he was coming from?
It said a lot and none of it good. Funny how in those four words of heart-breaking gratitude, Andyr said more about the truth of the reality he’d described than if Adrien had witnessed the atrocious acts directly. Though he’d been growing perturbed at having the imagery driven down his throat, now he felt petty for that mounting tension. In just four words, Andyr had driven home the full import of his desperation and the weight of the history behind it.
Inwardly kicking himself for having nearly undone all that he’d been trying to do for the younger man from the beginning, Adrien closed his eyes. Tentatively, he reached around with one arm and lightly touched his hand to his patient’s elbow. ]
Err … stop wrinkling the doctor.
[ He grumbled, voice gruff and accent thick from the lingering … actually he didn’t entirely understand what had just happened to him, in that moment when he’d been holding the gun. He’d have to think on that later. For now, awkward prickly doctor was awkward and prickly. ]
I need to get this note down, then we can get those cuffs off you and you can go.
[ Suddenly, getting rid of those damn cuffs was a top priority. Adrien wanted them gone; for Andyr’s sake. ]
no subject
He didn’t exactly possess the natural inclination to hug back, not the way most humans did. If he was expecting an embrace he would return it but unexpected hugs? His body stiffened in a way that might suggest that the doctor was not used to random hugs. Hell, Adrien wasn’t particularly inviting of casual human contact in general!
For a moment he just stood there, hands still on the data pad where he’d finished up his note, face pressed slightly into Andyr’s shoulder, as the man had a few inches on him. Most of the human population had a few inches on him to be honest. It was the softly spoken but heart-felt gratitude spilling from the younger man’s lips that provided the next blow.
Of course Andyr was only being kind, perhaps more so than Adrien would have expected but hearing the pure relief in the man’s voice, the doctor felt another twist from Guilt’s knife. Such a little thing, just a small note, and it obviously meant so much. What did that say about Andyr and the life he was coming from?
It said a lot and none of it good. Funny how in those four words of heart-breaking gratitude, Andyr said more about the truth of the reality he’d described than if Adrien had witnessed the atrocious acts directly. Though he’d been growing perturbed at having the imagery driven down his throat, now he felt petty for that mounting tension. In just four words, Andyr had driven home the full import of his desperation and the weight of the history behind it.
Inwardly kicking himself for having nearly undone all that he’d been trying to do for the younger man from the beginning, Adrien closed his eyes. Tentatively, he reached around with one arm and lightly touched his hand to his patient’s elbow. ]
Err … stop wrinkling the doctor.
[ He grumbled, voice gruff and accent thick from the lingering … actually he didn’t entirely understand what had just happened to him, in that moment when he’d been holding the gun. He’d have to think on that later. For now, awkward prickly doctor was awkward and prickly. ]
I need to get this note down, then we can get those cuffs off you and you can go.
[ Suddenly, getting rid of those damn cuffs was a top priority. Adrien wanted them gone; for Andyr’s sake. ]