The hardest part of this was that Ben couldn't remember experiencing a Ruby this broken, but there was nothing suspicious about that fact. He simply hadn't been there when she was going through this stage, because he hadn't been ready to make that leap of faith with her. She'd been the first real best friend he'd ever had, in terms of somebody knowing everything about him and his life and not treating him like some stupid kid, and her betrayal had hurt more than he'd known how to deal with at any age, let alone ten. But time did actually heal most wounds, and that broken trust had been one. Broken to the base, but the rebuilt foundation was stronger for it.
"Shut up," he said fiercely, not only daring to pull her closer, but to wrap his arms tightly around her and rest his chin on his head. He guessed the last time she'd even been hugged by a Ben, his chin still fit under hers.
Oh well, if she kicked him in the balls or made him start vomiting pins or something else, he'd deal. She needed this hug, he was convinced, but even more, he needed to hug her, needed to do something, anything, to take a chip out of her pain.
"Yes, you're worth it," he said, the words voiced in an almost rumbly growl – a deep voice, like his grandpa – that spoke of agitation on his part. "And I'm probably older than coma girl now, so you gotta listen to me. Those are the rules."
After a moment, he sighed softly, talking just as soft. "I'm sorry it sucks so much right now. It's not... it's not gonna get better right away and it's gonna keep sucking sometimes even after it's better, but you do get better, Ruby."