#; serabellyms / kat & garrus / 004

[smokedanced]

@serabellyms said: [COMFORT]: sender cups a distressed receiver's face in their hands and steadies them by resting their foreheads together. + reverse - kat & garrus 🥺

REASONS TO CUP A FACE    /    ACCEPTING ↷

❝ Shepard? ❞    His uninjured mandible twitches, pressing tight against his face in concern & tension. What does one do with a visibly distressed commanding officer?

Garrus is not sure she even hears him. His subvocals emit a stress-chirp, beyond human hearing range. What does one do? It doesn’t feel appropriate to touch her; he’s not sure where their boundaries lie.

What does one do with a visibly distressed close friend? Spirits, that’s what he should have asked himself to begin with.  That is easier.  How is it, that after all this time, even with how easy their camaraderie and banter is, even after all the sincere talks they’ve had, it’s so hard for him to know when to be a friend, when a squad member? This isn’t the Hierarchy, where rules & customs are clear, where one’s place in society is one’s rank. This is a friendship... and this is deep care, such that, for him, has long since ventured beyond friendship alone. The way he grieved her. They way he loves her, from afar yet from right by her side.

❝ Look at me, ❞    he says, voice low and steady. He rests his hands at her face, gently guiding her head.    ❝ I’m right here. ❞    He can’t promise her that it will all be OK.

So he does the only thing he thinks to do; leaning down to meet her, he touches his forehead to hers. The gesture is one of profound intimacy, yet he feels comfortable, natural, offering it; he loves her, yes, but... It is not over the line? He’s wanting to tell her she’s not alone. Turian parents and children do it, turian friends do it; just because he’s in love with her... doesn’t make this inappropriate? No. Of course not. Silly, feeling such a need to justify it to himself. Her skin is cool against his. And oh so alive.