Alex blinks, hand freezing against Neil's skin. In a way, this is the most out of place comment Neil could have said. Alex could have died? That happens every day. There's a million and one things that could kill you out here, and that--
Alex remembers Neil's face reddening with anger. The tremble of his lower lip before he set it into a firm line. There is emotion here, heavy and hot and strong, and he needs to look past the simple answer of "they always almost die."
Because it's something else. Something that reminds him of his steps into this basement, nearly two days ago. The steps he took, stumbling, shattered, and he remembers--
Remembers being frightened. As he has only been a few times in his life that he can recall. Nothing of a threat to him, but everything of a threat to Neil. One that Alex couldn't control or destroy. Alex felt fear, and a protectiveness that would have killed the guards above them if they had tried to stop him. And Neil, for something he was only hearing about, apparently felt rage.
"...You might have died," he notes quietly. "Going there to that place. Coming back. Everything else. It's the same for me, you know." A beat stretches before he moves his hand, lays it back on Neil's chest, against his heart. The organ beats against the walls of its cage, and Alex rubs his hand back and forth there. "I'm okay, though. I'm fine." It's okay. "You will be, too."
no subject
Alex remembers Neil's face reddening with anger. The tremble of his lower lip before he set it into a firm line. There is emotion here, heavy and hot and strong, and he needs to look past the simple answer of "they always almost die."
Because it's something else. Something that reminds him of his steps into this basement, nearly two days ago. The steps he took, stumbling, shattered, and he remembers--
Remembers being frightened. As he has only been a few times in his life that he can recall. Nothing of a threat to him, but everything of a threat to Neil. One that Alex couldn't control or destroy. Alex felt fear, and a protectiveness that would have killed the guards above them if they had tried to stop him. And Neil, for something he was only hearing about, apparently felt rage.
"...You might have died," he notes quietly. "Going there to that place. Coming back. Everything else. It's the same for me, you know." A beat stretches before he moves his hand, lays it back on Neil's chest, against his heart. The organ beats against the walls of its cage, and Alex rubs his hand back and forth there. "I'm okay, though. I'm fine." It's okay. "You will be, too."