[She doesn't miss that step, that abortive movement. Something aches inside her as she watches him struggling. She hates herself a little, for being the cause of it.]
Joel. [It's a plea, almost, like say something, do something, let me in please, but whatever is happening here, she has to meet him halfway. As much as she can, at least. And she can't just stand here, like this -
She'd wanted to touch him, back at the Capitol building, wanted to pull him in close and tell him how sorry she was, but she couldn't. Now, though? Now, she reaches out, puts her hand on his arm, because she can't not touch him now, but she doesn't know how welcome she is, or what he's getting at, and she's lost, but Joel's always been her anchor. Is he going to be that again?]
no subject
Joel. [It's a plea, almost, like say something, do something, let me in please, but whatever is happening here, she has to meet him halfway. As much as she can, at least. And she can't just stand here, like this -
She'd wanted to touch him, back at the Capitol building, wanted to pull him in close and tell him how sorry she was, but she couldn't. Now, though? Now, she reaches out, puts her hand on his arm, because she can't not touch him now, but she doesn't know how welcome she is, or what he's getting at, and she's lost, but Joel's always been her anchor. Is he going to be that again?]