Wrathion's eyes drop hesitantly to the hand gripping his jacket, trying to discern meaning from it.
Clever, brave and handsome. These things are all of course true, but... still pleasant to hear. His frown softens a little, and his hands slide away from where they were resting on Anduin's upper arms -- one still laced through Anduin's other hand. He realises belatedly, hesitates then... keeps hold of it, covers the hand so it's gently enveloped between both his own.
His tongue runs over his teeth, and he scrambles for something clever to say.
"Well," he says finally, "as was noted, he had some help along the way."
Anduin glances down at where Wrathion has moved to take his hand in between his own, his fingers curling in between Wrathion's gloved hands. It is a tentative touch given on his companion's part, and he can tell that Wrathion is not entirely certain of himself in it. Yet he is still offering, and for Anduin, that means the world.
He raises his eyes back up to Wrathion, offering him a soft and gentle smile as he does.
"He will always have that help available to him," Anduin says, softly. "Should he require it."
It has been Anduin's point all along, of course. Not that he insists on putting himself in Wrathion's business, as had been implied earlier. Just that -- he is there for him. He always has been, for as long as they both have known each other.
This is reaching the limit of Wrathion's tolerance now.
He smiles, a little uncomfortable, and squeezes at Anduin's hand.
"And his help is always available in turn," he adds. "Now, perhaps we should find something to eat."
Away from the melancholy of the coast, the sight of the mermaids and safely somewhere warm. Also, around people which may help Anduin feel... comforted? By the presence of others? Is that how it works? Wrathion isn't sure, but it seems worth a try.
Head a little cooler than before, Anduin can see the strain in Wrathion's smile. He understands this has probably been a lot for Wrathion to withstand, though withstand it he has, and here he is at the end of it holding Anduin's hand at that. His trust, his support, means more to Anduin than he can say.
"Of course," Anduin says, softly. "Let's go and get ourselves out of this wind. And Wrathion?"
He tightens his fingers on Wrathion's jacket, just to hold him there for a moment longer. Tilting his head back slightly so he might look Wrathion in the eyes, he offers him a soft, warm smile.
The fingers still fastened into the lapels of his outwear are making Wrathion feel...
Something he cannot quite place. A mixture of unease and... something. His heart is beating faster. Can Anduin feel it, with his fingers latched so tightly into the fabric, or is his hand far enough away to avoid that?
He needs to pull himself together. He thinks he might be staring. The silence is going on far too long. He's staring to feel uncomfortably warm.
"You're most welcome," he manages. "Perhaps we might find a warm drink, too. Hermione made me one after the incident in the stairwell."
Back on the topic of food. Food and drink. Food and drink and getting out of the wind. He hesitates, as if reluctant to break the moment, then moves to release Anduin's hand and turns to begin walking back toward the tower.
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Clever, brave and handsome. These things are all of course true, but... still pleasant to hear. His frown softens a little, and his hands slide away from where they were resting on Anduin's upper arms -- one still laced through Anduin's other hand. He realises belatedly, hesitates then... keeps hold of it, covers the hand so it's gently enveloped between both his own.
His tongue runs over his teeth, and he scrambles for something clever to say.
"Well," he says finally, "as was noted, he had some help along the way."
There.
no subject
He raises his eyes back up to Wrathion, offering him a soft and gentle smile as he does.
"He will always have that help available to him," Anduin says, softly. "Should he require it."
It has been Anduin's point all along, of course. Not that he insists on putting himself in Wrathion's business, as had been implied earlier. Just that -- he is there for him. He always has been, for as long as they both have known each other.
no subject
He smiles, a little uncomfortable, and squeezes at Anduin's hand.
"And his help is always available in turn," he adds. "Now, perhaps we should find something to eat."
Away from the melancholy of the coast, the sight of the mermaids and safely somewhere warm. Also, around people which may help Anduin feel... comforted? By the presence of others? Is that how it works? Wrathion isn't sure, but it seems worth a try.
no subject
"Of course," Anduin says, softly. "Let's go and get ourselves out of this wind. And Wrathion?"
He tightens his fingers on Wrathion's jacket, just to hold him there for a moment longer. Tilting his head back slightly so he might look Wrathion in the eyes, he offers him a soft, warm smile.
"Thank you."
no subject
Something he cannot quite place. A mixture of unease and... something. His heart is beating faster. Can Anduin feel it, with his fingers latched so tightly into the fabric, or is his hand far enough away to avoid that?
He needs to pull himself together. He thinks he might be staring. The silence is going on far too long. He's staring to feel uncomfortably warm.
"You're most welcome," he manages. "Perhaps we might find a warm drink, too. Hermione made me one after the incident in the stairwell."
Back on the topic of food. Food and drink. Food and drink and getting out of the wind. He hesitates, as if reluctant to break the moment, then moves to release Anduin's hand and turns to begin walking back toward the tower.