[The present is startling relief from the crushing emotion pouring out of a distraught child. He still feels it like a physical thing, a vice-grip on his heart that's slowly easing, but the memory of Newton's heartbreak will linger.
His eyes are wet, and Hermann tugs up a cuff over his palm to forcibly dry them. He feels like a mess and it's too much, can't reach out to Newton because it might not be safe. But they're here, not lost, and that's enough for now.
And despite how much Newton looks like he's in need of it, he has no sympathy or assurances to give him. Not now, when he wants nothing more than to withdraw from the emotional tumult that is Newton and stabilize his own]
action;
His eyes are wet, and Hermann tugs up a cuff over his palm to forcibly dry them. He feels like a mess and it's too much, can't reach out to Newton because it might not be safe. But they're here, not lost, and that's enough for now.
And despite how much Newton looks like he's in need of it, he has no sympathy or assurances to give him. Not now, when he wants nothing more than to withdraw from the emotional tumult that is Newton and stabilize his own]
We are not.. doing that again.