He brings his arms around her, holding her tightly. He brings his head close to hers, touching her hair with his cheek. After a long moment, he places his lips to her temple. Whispers. "You're not a monster, Malin."
She sinks into him, though the tension does not drain from her shoulders-- not yet, anyway. Her forehead ends up pressed into Easton’s neck almost without her even realizing she’s done it. She’s quiet for a long time, even after he speaks, just drawing in forcibly measured breaths. In, out. ‘You’re not a monster.’ In, out. ‘Not a monster.’ In, out. In, out. It’s like a silent mantra in her mind; words she desperately needed to hear repeated back to her in the silence. Eventually her breaths even out for real instead of her having to force it. She wraps her arms around Easton’s waist, her shoulders finally slumping as she lifts her head. “I love you,” she murmurs, showing the faintest hint of an exhausted smile. Then her hands come up to gently cup either side of his face as presses a kiss to his cheek. “I’m serious. I fucking adore you.”