As exhausted as Federico is, he makes sure to set the firearm aside when Casper draws closer. He knows the boy fears them. He knows he's not a threat. He can set it aside for now.
The embrace is slow and careful, and still, Federico tenses, as if bracing for further disaster.
That doesn't happen, of course.
Slowly, Federico relaxes, listening to what Casper has to say. "I see," he mutters, finding himself leaning into the touch. There is, indeed, a grounding quality to this he was not expecting. It's harder to lose himself in what happened before when speaking with and being held by someone now. "So you are experienced in the matter."
A goddess of death...? Deities can have children? ...different worlds. Casper's gods are unlikely to be like The Law. But it sounds like...inherited Arts, in a sense. Being able to smell death on him.
Sunday's death.
Federico's breath hitches. "You can smell it. So it really did happen. I..." Of course it did, but he's grown so tired he'd started to wonder if it was some sort of nightmare. "I...I was right there. And I couldn't..." A hand, cool and steady, smooths over his mussed hair.
He turns his face into the other's chest, as if trying to block his thoughts out. ...Casper's shirt may be getting a bit damp. Apologies. Fingers curl into the other's sleeves. Federico's shoulders are shaking again, his wings drooping. He may not understand the emotions tearing him apart, or why the embrace helps. But.
"Thank you," he manages, muffled and tearful, but indeed grateful.
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The embrace is slow and careful, and still, Federico tenses, as if bracing for further disaster.
That doesn't happen, of course.
Slowly, Federico relaxes, listening to what Casper has to say. "I see," he mutters, finding himself leaning into the touch. There is, indeed, a grounding quality to this he was not expecting. It's harder to lose himself in what happened before when speaking with and being held by someone now. "So you are experienced in the matter."
A goddess of death...? Deities can have children? ...different worlds. Casper's gods are unlikely to be like The Law. But it sounds like...inherited Arts, in a sense. Being able to smell death on him.
Sunday's death.
Federico's breath hitches. "You can smell it. So it really did happen. I..." Of course it did, but he's grown so tired he'd started to wonder if it was some sort of nightmare. "I...I was right there. And I couldn't..." A hand, cool and steady, smooths over his mussed hair.
He turns his face into the other's chest, as if trying to block his thoughts out. ...Casper's shirt may be getting a bit damp. Apologies. Fingers curl into the other's sleeves. Federico's shoulders are shaking again, his wings drooping. He may not understand the emotions tearing him apart, or why the embrace helps. But.
"Thank you," he manages, muffled and tearful, but indeed grateful.