Vaan was taken aback at her wrapping her arms around his torso and he just stood there for a few moments, unsure of what to do. Something leapt in his chest and slowly he enveloped her against his chest. "You won't lose him," Vaan said softly, "I promise." He wasn't sure what made him do it, but his hand moved up toward her face and his thumb gently wiped at her tears. "Please don't cry," he said, looking into her eyes. Something about her crying made him upset and the fact that he couldn't do anything about it made it worse.
He tucked the stray pieces of hair behind her ear and held her face gently in the palm of his hand, "I hate to see you cry." Vaan felt his heart pounding against his chest as though it were going to leap from him and out onto the floor. He only felt this way around Gabrielle and it terrified him.