@riverheld ‘you know if he had done it, I could have killed him.’ from quINN
“ QUINN… DON’T TALK LIKE THAT. ” it could be an empty threat haphazardly tossed out of rage toward their captors ( he hopes that it is ) but regardless, it sends a chill down his spine. it disturbs luke to hear threats of such violence wielded like they’re nothing.
still, best not to focus on the what-ifs. what matters is that quinn escaped and that, at least for now, they’re safe.
he reaches for quinn’s hand, enveloping it between his own. he cradles it against his heart like a most precious thing, searching the other’s expression. quinn is not made of brittle bone, but the experience would at least rattle anyone. for now, making quinn feel safe again is what matters.
whatever they must do to truly protect quinn from this ever happening again can wait until they’ve both rested. behind the drawn, flower-patterned curtains, the first ribbons of dawn bleed through the inky horizon. it’s been a long night and it is not yet over.
“ are you okay? what can I do for you? ”
“I mean it,” and this is meant to reassure themself more than him, surely, knowing how much of a pacifist Luke was. “I can’t - I won’t let it happen again. I’ll kill him if he ever touches me again. I don’t care.” So much hurt and anger breathed from their chest as they slowly ducked their shoulders, curling themself smaller and smaller to lean against him.
“You don’t have to do anything,” briefly glancing up at him, to sign when words would not come, still not meeting his eyes. “Just - stay, please.” Even though they were in his house and had found him here and felt safe to come here, to come to him - maybe he didn’t want them, still. Quinn would understand. Nobody really wanted more of a mess to clean up after. But ... mm. Their hand was in his and it was still dark and they couldn’t fathom moving much further from where they were now. It was the closest place they could imagine to being safe.
