[If the touch had been lighter, Shinjiro might have jerked away or lashed out, lost in the throes of flashback as he is. The tight grip is grounding, though, and with nothing else firm to reach for, the steady rhythm of Kim's chest is clung to like the last piece of driftwood in the ocean. Unconsciously, his fingers clasp tighter onto the fabric of Kim's jacket as his breathing slowly steadies to match the pattern.
It takes a few minutes, but eventually the older man's voice starts sounding like words again, losing their distorted, faraway quality. He blinks slowly, the haze gradually fading from his eyes as he comes back to himself. Even once he has, though, he uh...he stares at Kim like a deer in the headlights for an embarrassingly long time, is what he does.]
I...
["Thanks" sounds profoundly stupid, childish even. "Sorry" is similarly discarded out of hand. It might have been the easiest move to unceremoniously fuck off without a word, but his legs don't seem to have gotten that memo, since he simply remains rooted to his spot on the ground as though he could simply melt into the pavement and evaporate into the surrounding atmosphere through sheer force of will. Eventually, he does manage to tear his gaze away from the older man with some unintelligible grunt, though he still doesn't get up.]
I'm okay. [Transparently false, but one does what one must for the sake of their dignity.] Just give me a minute.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2023-07-21 08:25 pm (UTC)It takes a few minutes, but eventually the older man's voice starts sounding like words again, losing their distorted, faraway quality. He blinks slowly, the haze gradually fading from his eyes as he comes back to himself. Even once he has, though, he uh...he stares at Kim like a deer in the headlights for an embarrassingly long time, is what he does.]
I...
["Thanks" sounds profoundly stupid, childish even. "Sorry" is similarly discarded out of hand. It might have been the easiest move to unceremoniously fuck off without a word, but his legs don't seem to have gotten that memo, since he simply remains rooted to his spot on the ground as though he could simply melt into the pavement and evaporate into the surrounding atmosphere through sheer force of will. Eventually, he does manage to tear his gaze away from the older man with some unintelligible grunt, though he still doesn't get up.]
I'm okay. [Transparently false, but one does what one must for the sake of their dignity.] Just give me a minute.