Re: In-person: Cris/Sam
[He knows it's instinct, huh? It's wanting to protect, or—maybe not even that—it's just not wanting to hurt somebody more than they already been hurt, and he gets that too. That urge, just like she gets not wanting it. Pero, getting it don't change the churn in his gut about the whole thing, but he brushes one hand down Sam's side as she flutters her arms, soothing and another matter of instinct altogether.
They're still standing close, and he's still got fingers fencing spine. His pupils are still gone, blackout, as he looks down at Sam, listening to her. He don't say he's sorry, 'cause he already knows she'll tell him it ain't about that, but he does squeeze her.] Do they still? [But, he shakes his head when she says she don't wanna do nothing to remind hima Pilar.] Baby, it's okay. I know sometimes I do things that accidentally take you back, huh? Even if it's just brief. [Cris is quiet when blue eyes lift to him, dark enough to eat the sun, and he frowns. He curls closer, chin to his chest so he can still look down at her.] No—Sam, no, it ain't like that. [Thumb on cheekbone moves up under her eyes, in case any dampness falls through the curtaina her lashes.] It's me, huh? I'm—There's a lotta stuff about me that ain't pretty, but mosta that I can justify, how I was raised, what I had to do for my family. This just makes me feel—I dunno... helpless all over again. ¿Sabes? 'Cause once you say somethin', it's out there—it's—I know you know, 'cause I know you think it's safer not to say stuff sometimes. I can't really explain it. [He shrugs stupid and uncertain.]