HT100 Challenge #11: One to Grow On: Hope
Hard Time: Free-for-All
Okay, this is something I was fiddling with post-RIS, just so you know the setting:
"I'm sorry."
Chris looked at the hand resting on his knee, surprised at the sensation that *didn't* immediately sizzle through him. There had been a time when the slightest touch from Toby would set him on fire. Now, it just grounded and soothed him. "Sorry for what?" he said, turning to look at him. "For telling me?"
"No, never," Toby said, blue eyes looking at him so earnestly, so filled with guilt -- and something Chris felt wary of believing now, as much as he wanted to. "I couldn't let him betray you, Chris. I'm sorry he wasn't a better friend. I'm sorry I didn't do it for you."
********************************
-New-
The lockdown, the hacks clearing Ronnie’s meager belongings out of the pod - his brief glimpse of Chris at this morning’s count - had told Toby all he needed to know. He’d thought he might want to put on guilt like a well-worn and comfortable sweater. Instead, as he finally found Chris sitting by himself on the hard metal stairs, weary defeat readable in every line of his body, all Toby wanted was to reach out, to help … make it some degree easier.
He sat down beside him, hesitating only a moment before resting a hand on Chris’ knee, the connection still there, always there, just quieter and easier now. “I’m sorry,” he said and watched Chris turn to look at him, the wariness in his eyes slicing into Toby’s belly sharp as any shank.
“Sorry for what? For telling me?”
Christ no. Sorry for the childish games that had stolen so much time, sorry for not having enough faith when it mattered most. Sorry for so many goddamn things - but not for loving Chris, not for keeping him safe.
He watched Chris listen to his words, felt a different twinge in his belly as those blue eyes warmed up with a flicker of hope, and felt that stir to life in himself as Chris’ hand covered his and squeezed.
~~*~~
Okay, this is something I was fiddling with post-RIS, just so you know the setting:
"I'm sorry."
Chris looked at the hand resting on his knee, surprised at the sensation that *didn't* immediately sizzle through him. There had been a time when the slightest touch from Toby would set him on fire. Now, it just grounded and soothed him. "Sorry for what?" he said, turning to look at him. "For telling me?"
"No, never," Toby said, blue eyes looking at him so earnestly, so filled with guilt -- and something Chris felt wary of believing now, as much as he wanted to. "I couldn't let him betray you, Chris. I'm sorry he wasn't a better friend. I'm sorry I didn't do it for you."
********************************
-New-
The lockdown, the hacks clearing Ronnie’s meager belongings out of the pod - his brief glimpse of Chris at this morning’s count - had told Toby all he needed to know. He’d thought he might want to put on guilt like a well-worn and comfortable sweater. Instead, as he finally found Chris sitting by himself on the hard metal stairs, weary defeat readable in every line of his body, all Toby wanted was to reach out, to help … make it some degree easier.
He sat down beside him, hesitating only a moment before resting a hand on Chris’ knee, the connection still there, always there, just quieter and easier now. “I’m sorry,” he said and watched Chris turn to look at him, the wariness in his eyes slicing into Toby’s belly sharp as any shank.
“Sorry for what? For telling me?”
Christ no. Sorry for the childish games that had stolen so much time, sorry for not having enough faith when it mattered most. Sorry for so many goddamn things - but not for loving Chris, not for keeping him safe.
He watched Chris listen to his words, felt a different twinge in his belly as those blue eyes warmed up with a flicker of hope, and felt that stir to life in himself as Chris’ hand covered his and squeezed.
~~*~~