[ Truth to be told, this entire experience is surprising to Daniel. Robby actually being here in the city, and Daniel having had no idea all along. Robby actually being glad to see him. And then, on top of it all, Robby actually accepting the hug from him - no, not just accepting it, but moving into it, recipocating it.
It almost doesn't feel deserved. On Daniel's side it is also very reminiscent of another summer, of a time that's already a year ago now. Of seeing Robby around the dojo, often smiling, with so much energy and faith and with those bright, hopeful eyes looking at him. After the fact he thought a lot about the many things he should have done back then that he didn't. Like hugging Robby like this, for one.
But Daniel smashed the chance for that with his own hands. And yet here Robby is, leaning into the hug, the way Sam (and even Anthony) have when looking for comfort with him. It does feel a little undeserved, but.. maybe Daniel is more of a selfish guy than he'd like to be, and he finds himself wanting it, a heart skipping a beat with joy and relief to know that he can somehow, despite everything, provide this for Robby. A place to find comfort and joy, a place to find strength, because Daniel hasn't felt so strong lately at all - and not even right now either, with his pounding head and nauseous stomach - but he knows he will be, for Robby.
Even with all the thoughts running through his mind, his entire thought cycle focused on the hug, he still hears the words from Robby. It's strange, thinking that Robby thought just as hard about apologizing to him as Daniel thought about apologizing to Robby - but he does know the other is right. Who knows if there would have been a good time? Even if Daniel knows he would have dropped everything the moment he'd see the boy, there's no denying that he was sliding further and further down into a spiral that probably no one could stop.
Funny - not funny at all, actually - that it'd take them being kidnapped to some eerie otherworldly city for there to be a "good time" to see each other.
Daniel's hand moves down a little. Still keeping Robby close, but it moves down from the boy's shoulder to his upper arm, just so Daniel can rub his hand up and down a little there - a soft, reassuring gesture.
It doesn't feel like enough though. There's so much Daniel wants to say, but he knows there's no way his throat is going to cooperate enough with him to be able to say it all here. His own phone is gone, and-- Robby has a phone with him, maybe? But that involves looking for it, and that in turn involves letting go of the boy, and Daniel doesn't want to do that just yet.
It means he just has to express what he wants to say with physical actions, just like he did a moment ago. With how entangled they already are now, and with Robby leaning into the hug, it's very easy for Daniel to just twist his upper body a little so it's fully facing Robby, moving his second arm to join the other against Robby's back, now pulling the boy into a full, proper hug.
(Sorry, Robby, this very likely means that you can truly feel up close just how prickly mister LaRusso's nine o' clock shadow is. There's probably still some alcohol on his breath too..)
One of his arms remains wrapped around Robby's back, the other rubs reassuring circles against the boy's upper back, near his neck. Without words, it's a simple message - just it's okay, it's okay, it's okay.
It's all slow, like Daniel is taking his time with it. It's the one resource they've had way too much of in this place, after all, so he might as well use it to show Robby he doesn't have anywhere to go right now but to be here with Robby.
He knows, after all. What he wanted from Robby was never an apology, the thought didn't even cross Daniel's mind when he always knew he was the one who had to apologize.
All he instead wanted was for them to be at each other's sides again, just like this. ]
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It almost doesn't feel deserved. On Daniel's side it is also very reminiscent of another summer, of a time that's already a year ago now. Of seeing Robby around the dojo, often smiling, with so much energy and faith and with those bright, hopeful eyes looking at him. After the fact he thought a lot about the many things he should have done back then that he didn't. Like hugging Robby like this, for one.
But Daniel smashed the chance for that with his own hands. And yet here Robby is, leaning into the hug, the way Sam (and even Anthony) have when looking for comfort with him. It does feel a little undeserved, but.. maybe Daniel is more of a selfish guy than he'd like to be, and he finds himself wanting it, a heart skipping a beat with joy and relief to know that he can somehow, despite everything, provide this for Robby. A place to find comfort and joy, a place to find strength, because Daniel hasn't felt so strong lately at all - and not even right now either, with his pounding head and nauseous stomach - but he knows he will be, for Robby.
Even with all the thoughts running through his mind, his entire thought cycle focused on the hug, he still hears the words from Robby. It's strange, thinking that Robby thought just as hard about apologizing to him as Daniel thought about apologizing to Robby - but he does know the other is right. Who knows if there would have been a good time? Even if Daniel knows he would have dropped everything the moment he'd see the boy, there's no denying that he was sliding further and further down into a spiral that probably no one could stop.
Funny - not funny at all, actually - that it'd take them being kidnapped to some eerie otherworldly city for there to be a "good time" to see each other.
Daniel's hand moves down a little. Still keeping Robby close, but it moves down from the boy's shoulder to his upper arm, just so Daniel can rub his hand up and down a little there - a soft, reassuring gesture.
It doesn't feel like enough though. There's so much Daniel wants to say, but he knows there's no way his throat is going to cooperate enough with him to be able to say it all here. His own phone is gone, and-- Robby has a phone with him, maybe? But that involves looking for it, and that in turn involves letting go of the boy, and Daniel doesn't want to do that just yet.
It means he just has to express what he wants to say with physical actions, just like he did a moment ago. With how entangled they already are now, and with Robby leaning into the hug, it's very easy for Daniel to just twist his upper body a little so it's fully facing Robby, moving his second arm to join the other against Robby's back, now pulling the boy into a full, proper hug.
(Sorry, Robby, this very likely means that you can truly feel up close just how prickly mister LaRusso's nine o' clock shadow is. There's probably still some alcohol on his breath too..)
One of his arms remains wrapped around Robby's back, the other rubs reassuring circles against the boy's upper back, near his neck. Without words, it's a simple message - just it's okay, it's okay, it's okay.
It's all slow, like Daniel is taking his time with it. It's the one resource they've had way too much of in this place, after all, so he might as well use it to show Robby he doesn't have anywhere to go right now but to be here with Robby.
He knows, after all. What he wanted from Robby was never an apology, the thought didn't even cross Daniel's mind when he always knew he was the one who had to apologize.
All he instead wanted was for them to be at each other's sides again, just like this. ]