Even knowing how long it had been, the desperation in Erskine's shifting focus felt like a blow. The book thudded to the floor; Hopeless stepped into that lunge hardly before Erskine had left the armchair.

"Shhhh." Hopeless wrapped his arms around Erskine, arresting the scrabble by making an executive decision to slide onto Erskine's lap. He was skinny. They could both fit, if he curled his legs just so. Even still, he could feel the quivering tension under him.

Hopeless pulled Erskine tight up against him, and kissed his temple, and ran his fingers through his hair, blinking away some tears. "I'm here. It's okay. I'm here."