Tal had been through some tough scrapes in his life, but nothing like what Soh had endured the night before. Not knowing what else to do, he stayed quiet and wrapped his arms around her shoulders again when she leaned back into his chest. For the moment, at least, she was safe and he wouldn't let her go until she was ready.
"I'm glad y'fought back," he assured her, voice gruff for the pain he heard in hers. "Y'defended yourself. There's nothin' bad or wrong about that. An' the Dragoons'll know that. Anju will know that." He gave her a small squeeze, pressing his cheek to the side of her head. "An' y'didn't kill 'im." Even if the man had deserved it. But Soh didn't deserve to have to live with that weight. "Y'saved 'im, by gettin' 'im help. Y'did good, Soh. I promise."
Maybe someday she'd believe it herself, but until then he'd tell her the words as many times as she needed to hear them.
"I'm glad y'fought back," he assured her, voice gruff for the pain he heard in hers. "Y'defended yourself. There's nothin' bad or wrong about that. An' the Dragoons'll know that. Anju will know that." He gave her a small squeeze, pressing his cheek to the side of her head. "An' y'didn't kill 'im." Even if the man had deserved it. But Soh didn't deserve to have to live with that weight. "Y'saved 'im, by gettin' 'im help. Y'did good, Soh. I promise."
Maybe someday she'd believe it herself, but until then he'd tell her the words as many times as she needed to hear them.
