Ezner watched as she started to lean into him. He almost wanted to pull away, afraid of more pain to come. He didn't want to hurt anymore. But her arms were around him before he could, her head against his chest. And unconsciously, his arms wrapped gently around her head, cradling her there.

Thump-thump thump-thump thump-thump.

His heart was racing. And the tears kept flowing. But for each passing bit that she held him, his heart beat slowed, his breathing slowed, his tears slowed. And he began to hold her tighter, seeking more of her comfort.

Thump-thump.

Thump-thump.

Thump-thump.

He listened to her words as he held, and she held him, there. She... she truly thought him dead. She hadn't left him alone. He'd left her. He'd been taken away. He hadn't ever said his name while at the Order. Part of him thought maybe it was to protect her, protect her from Mr. Dey and his lecherous intentions. But no, that was surface level. He hadn't shared her name with anyone else because he liked that he was special to her and... she was special to him. In a time when he had nothing, for the first time in his life, he'd allowed himself to be selfish, and he kept her name, her memory, all to himself.

And that selfishness had been eating at him all this time and he had no idea.

When her eyes, her beautiful, crystalline blue eyes found his, he knew how much his loss had hurt her. He knew that he wasn't alone in this pain, that he wasn't the only one lost and confused. And in this moment, he pledged both a silent oath to himself, and one said aloud to her. He wiped the tears from his earthen eyes, his gaze taking on a determined, steely gaze, [b]"I promise I will never be lost from you again." [/b]