ten.

[welljustwatchme]

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[gezellighe]

[He'll sleep awhile more, exhausted. But when he does wake, a painful shudder courses through him, ghosts of pain in his body, and when he opens his eyes he takes a very deep breath, letting it out with a long, shaky sigh. For a moment, he's simply staring ahead, not really seeing the ceiling even though it's there.]

[welljustwatchme]

[She's been in a cosy state of half-consciousness for a while now, but when he shudders, she's instantly alert, pulling back from his a little to look at him.]

Nederland?

[gezellighe]

[He closes his eyes and takes another breath before turning to look at her.]

Hoi.

[welljustwatchme]

You're okay.

[It's both a statement and a reassurance, probably for both of them, probably not very useful. But she can't think of anything else to do but that, and smile at him.]

[gezellighe]

[Just a quiet sound of agreement from him; it's strange waking up when the last thing he remembered was being shot, practically point-blank.

Then again, he'd felt something similar when he'd died as a nation. He'll carefully reach up and press his palm into his chest, gently.]

[welljustwatchme]

[She pulls back a little more, so she's not so snugly close, but she'll keep watching him, and she can't make her smile go away completely because he's not dead for good and she can finally stop hating herself for letting it happen.]

Does it hurt or anything?

[gezellighe]

No, I-

Not anymore.

[It's just easier to say that. Physically, he was fine.]

[And then he'll look out the window, getting up on his elbows, then looking back at her.

I'm sorry.

[welljustwatchme]

Wait, what are you sorry for? I'm the one who let them-- who couldn't help you.

[gezellighe]

I could have been less reckless.

There's nothing you could have done.

[He'll look pointedly, now. She couldn't have saved him.]

[welljustwatchme]

There's always something. [She looks pointedly back a moment, then averts her eyes to look at his pillow instead.]

I'm glad you're back. I was worried you might not be.

[gezellighe]

I was too.

[He's actually admitting it, for once.]

I wouldn't have--

That was a bad goodbye.

[Huff; kind of embarrassed now.]

[welljustwatchme]

It was a horrible goodbye.

[And now she can't help but smile at him again.] You should be ashamed of yourself.

[gezellighe]

[He's not exactly smiling, but he'll relax a little, lying back down.]

Hmm.

[welljustwatchme]

[She keeps watching him, glad to see him at all, even more so to see him not completely tense. She doesn't think about what she does next, just leans over him to press her lips firmly against his.

And then she thinks, pulling back while she can still pretend that was an accident and definitely not something she planned to do.]

[gezellighe]

[It was much, much too brief. Holland sits up, scooting back so he's leaning back against the pillows and the headboard, watching her.]

[welljustwatchme]

... Sorry. [She'll just be here blushing now, avoiding direct eye contact, and making mental notes to think more than feel in the future.]