[It's mechanic to say it: I'm okay, we're okay, meager means of reassurance when it's suddenly very clear that neither of them are fine. And he knows she must have - seen up to a certain point. Watched herself kill Finn.]
[His expression collapses with hers, and there's a part of him that's glad she doesn't repeat as she'd done at home and close herself off. But the other part hurts for how much she's hurting.]
I know. [His voice is gentle as his hand moves from her face to the back of her head, and he lets go of her hand so he can pull her towards him, arm wrapping solidly around her. He couldn't do this before, for too many reasons to care about. He understands her choice, and he'd told her so at home too; there isn't an ounce of blame in his tone or frame. It doesn't mean it'll get any easier, but she is Clarke and he is Bellamy, and they wouldn't have gotten this far if they didn't understand even the most haunted parts of each other.] I know.
[She doesn't have to say it, she doesn't have to do or say anything she can't bring herself to, because he already knows. All he can do is just - keep holding her, cradling her head with Finn's death hanging in the air between them.]
no subject
[His expression collapses with hers, and there's a part of him that's glad she doesn't repeat as she'd done at home and close herself off. But the other part hurts for how much she's hurting.]
I know. [His voice is gentle as his hand moves from her face to the back of her head, and he lets go of her hand so he can pull her towards him, arm wrapping solidly around her. He couldn't do this before, for too many reasons to care about. He understands her choice, and he'd told her so at home too; there isn't an ounce of blame in his tone or frame. It doesn't mean it'll get any easier, but she is Clarke and he is Bellamy, and they wouldn't have gotten this far if they didn't understand even the most haunted parts of each other.] I know.
[She doesn't have to say it, she doesn't have to do or say anything she can't bring herself to, because he already knows. All he can do is just - keep holding her, cradling her head with Finn's death hanging in the air between them.]