this is real , i’m real . look at me . - for the big man
He is back in Seheron. He's having trouble holding his axe because he is drenched in blood. Flies are in the air seeking to make homes in the bodies of... of...
The pain of an arrow hits him in the shoulder and when he screams he is clawing at sheets. There is a far away screech of an animal scrambling away. He's restrained. "I can't move!" he snarls it out, raging and fighting, the harder and harder The Iron Bull thrashes the more that restrictive force binds him.
It's not straps or ropes... it's arms.
This is real, I'm real. look at me.
Still heavy breaths rip through his lungs with a burn. He must've been at this for longer than he knew and even with that almost familiar voice calling him back he cannot untense. Her arms (Iron Bull squeezes his eyes shut tight trying to bring himself down) tighten, unrelenting.
Trying to bring a hand up to wrench them away, they're already trapped.
It feels like hours, all of his senses slowing down as those breaths still drag through his lungs like glass.
I am The Iron Bull. I am Ben-Hassrath. No, start again.
I am Iron Bull. I am Tal-Vashoth. I work with... The Inquisiton.
He didn't think he was speaking out loud, but the arms loosen slightly still wary of him losing the moment again.... comforting him. He feels the press of a forehead on his sweat soaked back and a thankful exhale.
His mind draws to a headache and a dull ringing as slowly his breathing evens out. As it evens out he can feel her loosen, andBull raises his hand and grips her forearm to keep her there.
Nalla... no, that's not all.
"Did I hurt you?" his voice scratches out, and his throat hurts.
He can feel her speak, but not all of his senses are there yet... he hopes he didn't.
What remained of the night and the early morning past by too fast. One moment she is lifting a cool cup of water to his lips, his hands resting limply in his lap. Palms open and upward.
Then... it is morning and he is entirely back in this time and place.
"Are you okay, Kadan?" his throat still hurts when he speaks, but he can't remember what she said.
She is dressed for the day save for the armor, but crawls back into bed, pushing him back to lay down as she straddles and gives the suggestion of pinning his arms to his sides with her thighs now, an explanation of how some of last night went down. "You didn't even touch me. Didn't get the chance to, Big Guy. You'd never hurt me," he watches as she reaches out, touching the bruises of where she'd dug in her finger tips to hold him in place.
The last of the tension releases from around his heart and Bull allows his eyes to shut. "Can you-" he is the one that soothes the hurt, but, "Stay a little longer and hold me, Kadan?" he wonders.