He'd told himself he was prepared for the worst. He'd told himself that he knew it would be bad--how could it not be after months alone, his family 'dead'--but that'd all been a big fucking lie. As prepared as Malba thought he was? It still didn't stop his heart from sinking, didn't stop his eyes from tearing up and his lips setting into a shivering frown.
He should have gotten Kailas out sooner. Somehow, someway--he should have found a fucking way.
Malba carefully reached out to the motionless man resting in Arlo's arms, warm fingertips trailing ever so carefully against a pronounced cheekbone. "Hey... hey Kailas. Welcome home, huh?"
A few of those tears slipped quietly from his red eyes.