a sharp breath , feeding the fire that 𝒃𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒔 within his gut ; there's no where to look that feels right , no words that fit in his mouth that don't feel awkward , clunky or unnatural . sawyer wanted the world to ᵐᵉˡᵗ ᵃʷᵃʸ , to bury his head in the sand & never think again . ❝ i can't — ❞ the weight on his shoulders has become 𝚞𝚗𝚋𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎 , he can feel his collarbones breaking beneath it ... concrete fills lungs & breath is held , fear of making any move taking a hold of him , as if suspending motion all together might confuse impending overwhelm .
jack's voice comes into focus all at once , fading in from somewhere 𝑓𝑎𝑟 𝑎𝑤𝑎𝑦 from sawyer's battlefield of a mind . he looks up , vision blurred by hot tears that are quick to leave behind long , wet streaks on his cheeks. ❝ jack , ᶤ͇ — ❞ nothing further comes , just a croak of words that might have been as his body crashes into partner's , rapacious in the way hands snatch the comfort he is offered ; scorching , rising flames of emotion finally begin to ease at the relief from someone who loves him . ❝ i don't — ❞ he takes a 𝑠𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑏𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡𝘩 , nudging nose to jack's sternum ; already beginning to ᶜˡᵒᵃᵏ the guilt that has been building like a wave . ❝ i don't know if i can do it , if i — i don't think i can help them , jack . ❞