“Mm,” she hums softly as she feels his exhale, the way he teases about her fistfighting flashbacks, hint of a smile curving her lips. “I’ll charge top dollar, then -- and I’ll have the element of surprise on my side. Being so short has some advantages, they’ll never see it coming. Literally.” Liza murmurs, hoping the silly banter is enough to pull him back, help keep away the terrors she knows he’s seen.
Liza doesn’t need to ask what he’s been through to know he’s survived some shit. She doesn’t need specifics if it’s going to tear open old wounds -- it’s enough to see him like this, to pull him out of his own head, pull him back from those memories. Fingers gently slip from his hair to the back of his neck, kneading gently to try and loosen the leftover tension from his body. She doesn’t mind the way he continues to lean against her, like she’s the only thing keeping him upright, the one solid thing in his life at this moment.
When Jack starts talking again, gives that humorless smile and brings up everything he knows to do -- but training doesn’t always kick in when your mind is thousands of miles away. She turns her head, nuzzling lightly at his hair before her lips press a soft kiss to his temple. She doesn’t say anything, doesn’t try to fill in the silence while he closes his eyes and gathers his thoughts. She just holds him, lets him explain even though it feels like needles poking at her heart.
“The brain is a powerful thing -- and not always in a good way.” She murmurs softly, nails gently scratching back up his scalp, breathing him in as she nuzzles his hair again. Jack always seems to have that lingering hospital smell, but there’s always something warm and familiar beneath it -- laundry soap and his aftershave. “It remembers things we’d rather forget, and then dredges them back up at the most inconvenient of times and makes us feel like we're reliving the worst moments in our lives. Makes us feel ridiculous after, too.” She mutters, speaking from her own experience but knowing Jack will understand.
Liza pulls her head back slightly, just enough to try and look at his face. “But you're not defined by these moments, Jack. You have great instincts, but shit happens sometimes and we just… gotta ride it out, y’know? The important thing is that you’re safe, and you’re not alone. Even if I’m not here, you can call me and I’ll be there for you, no matter what.”