[When Ben hands over the protein bar, Klaus unwraps it and rolls his eyes at the comment.]
You don't have to be an idiot to not be able to open a wrapper one-handed. Drink up.
[It's gentle, teasing, partly to lighten the mood, and Klaus watches quietly while Ben drinks, and then puts the empty glass aside and thanks him. He can't help the fact that it feels kind of nice, being able to do something for Ben for a change. That it feels kind of nice to be the one capable of helping one of his siblings instead of the one failing them and needing to be saved.]
'Course. You're my brother, and we stick together, you and me.
[Nudging his shoulder against Ben's, he watches as his brother eats, taking a few bites and then Ben is closing his eyes and Klaus sees that muscle stand out in Ben's jaw that always pops out when Ben is beating himself up. The suspicion is confirmed when Klaus hears Ben's voice come out in that soft, shaky kind of way that implies he might be close to tears. It takes a couple of moments because it's been so long, but Klaus puts two and two together after a bit of thought.
He doesn't look at Ben, but he shifts a little closer, and slides his arm tighter around Ben's waist, rubs at his back carefully.]
[His hand slides up to cup around the back of Ben's neck, squeezing gently at the muscle there, trying to work out some of the tension Ben is carrying in his neck and shoulders. The tension of guilt and fear and anxiety and sadness.]
I'm good at staying alive. I don't know about living.
[Klaus' voice is soft and a little careful when he speaks, but he leans over to look over at Ben, trying to catch his eyes.]
I have your back, okay Ben? You've been watching over me for years and years and I gave you so much shit. Now it's my turn.
no subject
You don't have to be an idiot to not be able to open a wrapper one-handed. Drink up.
[It's gentle, teasing, partly to lighten the mood, and Klaus watches quietly while Ben drinks, and then puts the empty glass aside and thanks him. He can't help the fact that it feels kind of nice, being able to do something for Ben for a change. That it feels kind of nice to be the one capable of helping one of his siblings instead of the one failing them and needing to be saved.]
'Course. You're my brother, and we stick together, you and me.
[Nudging his shoulder against Ben's, he watches as his brother eats, taking a few bites and then Ben is closing his eyes and Klaus sees that muscle stand out in Ben's jaw that always pops out when Ben is beating himself up. The suspicion is confirmed when Klaus hears Ben's voice come out in that soft, shaky kind of way that implies he might be close to tears. It takes a couple of moments because it's been so long, but Klaus puts two and two together after a bit of thought.
He doesn't look at Ben, but he shifts a little closer, and slides his arm tighter around Ben's waist, rubs at his back carefully.]
Hey, hey hey hey. Ben. It's fine, nothing happened, okay? We're okay, we're okay.
[His hand slides up to cup around the back of Ben's neck, squeezing gently at the muscle there, trying to work out some of the tension Ben is carrying in his neck and shoulders. The tension of guilt and fear and anxiety and sadness.]
I'm good at staying alive. I don't know about living.
[Klaus' voice is soft and a little careful when he speaks, but he leans over to look over at Ben, trying to catch his eyes.]
I have your back, okay Ben? You've been watching over me for years and years and I gave you so much shit. Now it's my turn.