She didn't return his smile. Instead, she met his eyes with a solemn and concerned gaze, until it hit her.

Her gentle grip tightened the smallest bit around his forearm as she passed a bit of her warmth to him. Her face went white.

Through the window of the soul, she felt it all, the crushing, suffocating weight. This was something that might be beyond her expertise, despite her high rank in Guardian. Her gaze went almost blank as his emotions overtook her for the few seconds she stared, until she tore her eyes away, lessening the connection by not looking for it. There was no shaking what she had felt, though; it was still stronger than her usual, unblock able read.

Horrified that he was in such pain, she shook her head, refusing to mind her own business-- really, it was for his own good, she thought. "Erskine... You don't have to lie to me," she told him softly, both calling him out and offering her support. Her touch continued to leak warmth into him.