[ He's expecting her to open the door. What he isn't expecting, is the hug. ]
[ A jolt of deja vu rattles Hei's mind. He remembers the last time this had happened -- the day after he'd slit Yin's throat, she'd flung herself at him in that same surreally tight embrace. That time, he'd been unable to stop himself from hugging her back. But now, he catches her carefully by the shoulders, edging her away. But it's only until he's past the threshold and the door is shut. Only until he's assessed her, top to toe, one-hundred-percent focus, cataloging any changes in her, any new additions to her City Dead status -- grayed fingertips, pruned whitish lips, dead blue veins streaking her skin. ]
[ But there's no change, just as Yin said. She's the same as ever -- cool, wispy, clear-eyed. The fluttering thing that had started on the street, at the prospect of seeing her, is now in a whole other league. Snatching her close, he can barely breathe. It takes a few moments to recognize that this is due to the giddy relief building up in him, a physical force that makes his breath hitch. ]
[ Passing his arms around her, he squeezes her so tight she'll probably loose her balance if he lets go. Not that he's planning to let go anytime soon. ]
voice;
[ A jolt of deja vu rattles Hei's mind. He remembers the last time this had happened -- the day after he'd slit Yin's throat, she'd flung herself at him in that same surreally tight embrace. That time, he'd been unable to stop himself from hugging her back. But now, he catches her carefully by the shoulders, edging her away. But it's only until he's past the threshold and the door is shut. Only until he's assessed her, top to toe, one-hundred-percent focus, cataloging any changes in her, any new additions to her City Dead status -- grayed fingertips, pruned whitish lips, dead blue veins streaking her skin. ]
[ But there's no change, just as Yin said. She's the same as ever -- cool, wispy, clear-eyed. The fluttering thing that had started on the street, at the prospect of seeing her, is now in a whole other league. Snatching her close, he can barely breathe. It takes a few moments to recognize that this is due to the giddy relief building up in him, a physical force that makes his breath hitch. ]
[ Passing his arms around her, he squeezes her so tight she'll probably loose her balance if he lets go. Not that he's planning to let go anytime soon. ]