Oh, there were days when he hoped, and...wouldn't it have been a fitting way to go? Giving his last supplies so that another Wolfwood could keep living in their place? But no, he hadn't been disconnected from himself enough to give up everything, so it hadn't felt like any sort of a big deal at all. Just giving him what he thought would help him get where he needed to go, and walking out of his life again so he could be safe.
But then he was grabbed from behind, spun to face him again, and his heart jumped into his throat, the shock enough that he twisted his arm out of the hold and blocked the grabbing arm away with his other, moving on pure instinct before his brain caught back up to what had happened. Even after he had realized there wasn't a blow following the grab, though, the words confused him, and he stood, staring with wide eyes before it sank in.
Oh. Ok. Ok, yeah. That...that was...he felt his heart clench painfully in his chest, but it was a bittersweet pain. Message received, loud and clear, even if this man couldn't admit to it. And he didn't have the heart to call him out for it, for this simple concern hidden behind anger and bluster to keep himself safe, so he simply nodded, smiling sadly and shuffling back to begin collecting the supplies and tuck them carefully back into his duffel bag.
"If you insist." He murmured out, his voice at least sounding a little less ragged. "I gotta warn you, though; I haven't exactly been the best traveling companion, lately. I tend to cry at the stupidest shit."
Like now, when he reached up to wipe the tears off of his face while his back was still turned to him, and try as he might, he couldn't stop the sharp hiccup in his chest when his body tried to force out another soft sob. Because it hurt, it hurt so much, and he knew that every second he was around him was going to feel like he was being flayed alive.
But...he was alive. For the first time since the entire exchange had started, a part of him felt like at least in some way, the man he cared about was alive again, even if it wasn't the same, even if their meeting would only last long enough for him to make sure he made it safely to another town. That was fine, he could accept that, just knowing that he was out there, safe and sound.
He cinched up his bag once all the supplies were back inside, taking a moment to lift his face to the sky with closed eyes and whisper a silent "Thank you" to whoever had been listening, to whoever had decided to let him have this one last meeting before they parted ways. And then he looked back down, glancing around for Wolfwood's belongings.
"Where's your Punisher?" He'd expected to see it in the back seat of the car, but no, he suddenly realized it was nowhere to be seen. He turned to glance back at him, curiosity on his face.
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But then he was grabbed from behind, spun to face him again, and his heart jumped into his throat, the shock enough that he twisted his arm out of the hold and blocked the grabbing arm away with his other, moving on pure instinct before his brain caught back up to what had happened. Even after he had realized there wasn't a blow following the grab, though, the words confused him, and he stood, staring with wide eyes before it sank in.
Oh. Ok. Ok, yeah. That...that was...he felt his heart clench painfully in his chest, but it was a bittersweet pain. Message received, loud and clear, even if this man couldn't admit to it. And he didn't have the heart to call him out for it, for this simple concern hidden behind anger and bluster to keep himself safe, so he simply nodded, smiling sadly and shuffling back to begin collecting the supplies and tuck them carefully back into his duffel bag.
"If you insist." He murmured out, his voice at least sounding a little less ragged. "I gotta warn you, though; I haven't exactly been the best traveling companion, lately. I tend to cry at the stupidest shit."
Like now, when he reached up to wipe the tears off of his face while his back was still turned to him, and try as he might, he couldn't stop the sharp hiccup in his chest when his body tried to force out another soft sob. Because it hurt, it hurt so much, and he knew that every second he was around him was going to feel like he was being flayed alive.
But...he was alive. For the first time since the entire exchange had started, a part of him felt like at least in some way, the man he cared about was alive again, even if it wasn't the same, even if their meeting would only last long enough for him to make sure he made it safely to another town. That was fine, he could accept that, just knowing that he was out there, safe and sound.
He cinched up his bag once all the supplies were back inside, taking a moment to lift his face to the sky with closed eyes and whisper a silent "Thank you" to whoever had been listening, to whoever had decided to let him have this one last meeting before they parted ways. And then he looked back down, glancing around for Wolfwood's belongings.
"Where's your Punisher?" He'd expected to see it in the back seat of the car, but no, he suddenly realized it was nowhere to be seen. He turned to glance back at him, curiosity on his face.