[It's probably telling that what Caesar chose to share is they killed my father and not they killed me. The truth of the matter is that he's good - excellent - at keeping other people safe, making them feel secure, but when it comes to himself, he still isn't convinced that he matters. It didn't occur to him to say they killed me; why would he? It happened, sure, but that's not what matters to him.]
[It doesn't occur to him to tell her about the nightmares, either, but that's for a different reason. This moment of safety is for her, not him. Maybe next time it will be for him (probably not, he probably won't let it, but maybe), but now it's for her. She called him, he came for her, so this is for her.]
[Her fingers grasp at his shirt in the end, and he doesn't smile, but his fierce look softens by a fraction where he leans over her shoulder. She is small next to him but she feels big and important, and his hands rest in the middle of her back, just under her ribcage, where the body stops doing such a good job protecting you and where he always held his sisters.]
No thank-yous. Just - maybe thank me by telling me if someone jumps to conclusions, Elena. Let me help.
no subject
[It doesn't occur to him to tell her about the nightmares, either, but that's for a different reason. This moment of safety is for her, not him. Maybe next time it will be for him (probably not, he probably won't let it, but maybe), but now it's for her. She called him, he came for her, so this is for her.]
[Her fingers grasp at his shirt in the end, and he doesn't smile, but his fierce look softens by a fraction where he leans over her shoulder. She is small next to him but she feels big and important, and his hands rest in the middle of her back, just under her ribcage, where the body stops doing such a good job protecting you and where he always held his sisters.]
No thank-yous. Just - maybe thank me by telling me if someone jumps to conclusions, Elena. Let me help.