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"Hey, I'm home."
The familiar voice sends a gasp up my throat and I cover my face to stifle the noise. My eyes are wide and tears stream over my hands as I silently plead Hobie to stay away.
"Love? Where are ya?"
His boots start to sound slowly through the apartment and I feel my heart jump out of my chest. He can't see me like this.
His head pokes around the doorframe, first with curiosity, then with fear. It's like it strikes through his whole body, tearing him between wanting to throw himself at me and stay put.
"'Ey, uh... you alrigh'?" he asks, his voice soft and almost too casual. He crouches down to my level in the doorway. "Can I come in?"
I shake my head slightly, keeping my eyes on him and my legs bunched up to my chest. He pulls a little face, almost pitying, almost
scared, and sits down fully in the doorway, leaning his shoulder against the frame.
"Do you wanna talk about it?" he offers, trying to keep eye contact with me.
I look away, not really sure if I can. I look upat him again and shrug.
"Ok," he responds. "Is there anythin' I can do for you?"
My breathing has slowed a little, but his presence is still putting me on edge a little. I would love to say some thing like, "Yes, please hold my hand," or "Could you just keep talking?" but both of those strike absolute terror into my chest and I can't bring myself to answer.
He narrows his brows a little but stays put, looking down. In a few seconds, his head moves slightly and he looks at me.
"Can I give you my vest?"
I give him a glance of worry, but after a good while of trying to hear my rational thoughts, I nod slowly. He smiles softly and moves as slowly as he can so he doesn't clink the pins and spikes together. Placing it flat on the floor, inside down, he looks up at me again.
"I'm gonna slide it over, is that ok?" he asks.
I nod. "Quiet," I whisper.
He smiles at me and gently pushes it across the tiles toward me. Once he's relaxed back onto the doorframe, I take it cautiously and hold it in my lap for a moment, feeling how heavy it is.
I scoot forward a little and put it on, weighing down my shoulders pretty decently and pressing into my back securely.
After a few minutes, I feel my mind float back into place and my breathing slow. Hobie doesn't feel like a big red danger sign anymore. That's a relief.
Once I've calmed down enough to form words, I raise my arms and make little grabby hands at him.
"Y' want a hug?" he smiles, picking himself up just enough to shuffle over to me. I flinch a little at how big he is and he immediately stops. "No? Do ya want somethin' else, babes?"
I shake my head. "Sorry, you're just tall," I whisper out. "Can I still have a hug?"
He nods and makes his way over to me, slower and closer to the floor. Sliding down the tiled wall next to me, he holds his arms open and as soon as he's on the floor I wrap my arms around him and bury my face in his chest.
"Ev'rythin's ok," he whispers. "You're safe."