[ Ben accepts this new and upsetting information silently, turning it over in his mind. There had been a slip-up once more with time, and Klaus had been parted from him, in some unknown place, surrounded by unknown people, without his family, without backup, for - months. He hasn't had a lot to hold onto, since he died. But he had always at least had knowledge, and presence. He knew where Klaus went, who he was with, what was going on with him. He could try, in his indirect and ineffective way, to keep his brother safe.
So it doesn't just feel like something that's happened to Klaus, him going through a door to this Hadriel place. It feels like a thing that happened to Ben, too.
There's no mistaking it this time: the way Klaus winces, can't seem to lift his right arm up all that much. Through all the things that confuse him and that he cannot change, Ben focuses on this familiar thing. Klaus is injured, and hiding it. And he is not going to let that slide. But he doesn't have a chance to voice his opinion on the matter before Klaus is pulling him into a hug, and it takes all the wind out of his sails.
Ben can't remember the last time he was hugged. Even when he was alive, those last few years had been... fraught. He hadn't liked anyone touching him, coming too close. It all seemed to grave to him, so important - that he protect everyone by not letting them get too close to him, a monster. ]
Klaus...
[ But that's all he can manage. Because being hugged? Is actually kind of wonderful. He doesn't know how he had ever hated this. Klaus is squeezing him tight, and Ben shuts his eyes. He has never been one for big displays of emotion, but because of that, any betrayal of it stands out. And his breaths go shallow and very shaky, like he's about to cry. He doesn't, of course, but it's a close thing there for a moment.
Then, swallowing, he makes the choice he's gotta make, because he knows Klaus, and knows that sometimes you just had to help him cut through the bullshit. Ben reaches out and sets a hand against Klaus's shoulder, where he thinks he must be hurt. Ben doesn't squeeze hard - he's not a psycho, and he has never (ever) liked causing pain. But his grip is steady, and even just that gentle touch provokes enough of a reaction that Klaus isn't going to be able to deny it.
What does surprise Ben is that his palm comes away wet. He had thought Klaus was bruised, had maybe wrenched his arm badly in some what. But there is blood - not a lot, but any blood is too much - and Ben's guts twist up unpleasantly looking at it, smelling it. ]
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So it doesn't just feel like something that's happened to Klaus, him going through a door to this Hadriel place. It feels like a thing that happened to Ben, too.
There's no mistaking it this time: the way Klaus winces, can't seem to lift his right arm up all that much. Through all the things that confuse him and that he cannot change, Ben focuses on this familiar thing. Klaus is injured, and hiding it. And he is not going to let that slide. But he doesn't have a chance to voice his opinion on the matter before Klaus is pulling him into a hug, and it takes all the wind out of his sails.
Ben can't remember the last time he was hugged. Even when he was alive, those last few years had been... fraught. He hadn't liked anyone touching him, coming too close. It all seemed to grave to him, so important - that he protect everyone by not letting them get too close to him, a monster. ]
Klaus...
[ But that's all he can manage. Because being hugged? Is actually kind of wonderful. He doesn't know how he had ever hated this. Klaus is squeezing him tight, and Ben shuts his eyes. He has never been one for big displays of emotion, but because of that, any betrayal of it stands out. And his breaths go shallow and very shaky, like he's about to cry. He doesn't, of course, but it's a close thing there for a moment.
Then, swallowing, he makes the choice he's gotta make, because he knows Klaus, and knows that sometimes you just had to help him cut through the bullshit. Ben reaches out and sets a hand against Klaus's shoulder, where he thinks he must be hurt. Ben doesn't squeeze hard - he's not a psycho, and he has never (ever) liked causing pain. But his grip is steady, and even just that gentle touch provokes enough of a reaction that Klaus isn't going to be able to deny it.
What does surprise Ben is that his palm comes away wet. He had thought Klaus was bruised, had maybe wrenched his arm badly in some what. But there is blood - not a lot, but any blood is too much - and Ben's guts twist up unpleasantly looking at it, smelling it. ]
You need a doctor.