[The moment she falls into him, he has to grit his teeth to stop the overwhelming emotion from cracking him any further, and instead transfers that strength in his arms as he holds her close, face burying into her hair. It's time like these that he really pays attention to her scent, her warmth, her breath. All the things that remind him she's here with him—alive.]

I'm sorry...I know this isn't easy for you either.

[She's a victim—his victim. He still thinks it a miracle she didn't leave him after that, that she doesn't become frightened on seeing him. Of course he realizes his thoughts are illogical a d fortunately doesn't think that. But sometimes, when he's forced to remember those events, that dark thought pokes its thorny head to further dig into the wound.]

The greatest fear I have...isn't you suddenly leaving me to return to your world... It's you dying and either because I couldn't protect you or—[He bites his lips and clutches her tighter.] ...Because of me.

[By his own hand. Because he couldn't stop himself when under some other control not his own.]

...I don't want you to ever suffer or be in pain, and it's already happened once—

[He cuts himself short because he feels he's already said too much. This isn't what he wants her to hear, to know.]