Daniel isn't sure what kind of reaction he expects. This isn't the sort of thing he talks about, after all, so he has no way to gauge how anyone would actually react to this information. Sure, there was Johnny, but-- he can hardly say Johnny has a normal human reaction to anything. Dismissing the entire deal sounded like what the guy would do. And Robby has been perfectly kind about this whole thing. Back when he first told Robby about what happened between him and Silver in general, when he and Robby were still on slightly shakey ground. Back earlier today, when Daniel confessed about it a little more intimately. He has no reason to think Robby might react unkindly, and yet Daniel fusses all the same, worries the moment the words have left his mouth, the shame and guilt about it all just a little bit too strong.
But there's no negative reaction from Robby. Not towards Daniel, anyway. But it's not the positive kindness from before either. Instead it's--
It's a third, unexpected thing, and Daniel finally does look over at Robby, even if it's just to do so in surprise, his eyes a little wider. There's something in his heart, a feeling Daniel can't quite place, doesn't have time to think about, at the idea of someone willing to defend him, to keep him from harm.
There's indeed no time though. Not when Robby is expressing this sort of sentiment so intensely. Daniel figures it's a mixture of everything. Of the things Robby has only just gotten over - the violent lashing out - and a natural anger Robby must be feeling right now at hearing about all this. The latter is part of the touching emotion in Daniel's heart, but it's no good when it comes with the former, and the man drops all shame to close the proximity between him and Robby a little again, his hand landing on top of one of the hands that's clutching the bowl, cold skin against warm skin.
"He's not here," Daniel says. The emotion hasn't fully left his voice yet, still a little vulnerable, but he tries to make it sound as reassuring as can be.
It's true, after all. If this awful bond has been good for one thing, it's the fact that it told him without a doubt that Terry Silver is gone.
"We are. That's the bond I want to focus on."
So he can finally have one he's proud of, rather than one that symbolizes nothing but shame.
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But there's no negative reaction from Robby. Not towards Daniel, anyway. But it's not the positive kindness from before either. Instead it's--
It's a third, unexpected thing, and Daniel finally does look over at Robby, even if it's just to do so in surprise, his eyes a little wider. There's something in his heart, a feeling Daniel can't quite place, doesn't have time to think about, at the idea of someone willing to defend him, to keep him from harm.
There's indeed no time though. Not when Robby is expressing this sort of sentiment so intensely. Daniel figures it's a mixture of everything. Of the things Robby has only just gotten over - the violent lashing out - and a natural anger Robby must be feeling right now at hearing about all this. The latter is part of the touching emotion in Daniel's heart, but it's no good when it comes with the former, and the man drops all shame to close the proximity between him and Robby a little again, his hand landing on top of one of the hands that's clutching the bowl, cold skin against warm skin.
"He's not here," Daniel says. The emotion hasn't fully left his voice yet, still a little vulnerable, but he tries to make it sound as reassuring as can be.
It's true, after all. If this awful bond has been good for one thing, it's the fact that it told him without a doubt that Terry Silver is gone.
"We are. That's the bond I want to focus on."
So he can finally have one he's proud of, rather than one that symbolizes nothing but shame.