[Ben is silent for several long moments, holding himself still and contained except for the movement of his eyes, searching Alex's face; whether he finds what he's looking for or not remains hidden behind his own, leaning forward slightly on his elbows braced on his knees, fingers clasped between them.
They're close enough Ben could unfold them and touch Alex's arm, but he doesn't. He looks, he considers, and he counts down the beat of his own heart while he does so. Alex knows what Ben needs to know but Ben is the one with the words, and they need to be perfect. He can see that.
Letting out a slow breath, Ben straightens up where he's sitting, starts to shift back so he can pull his legs up under him.
In the same low, steady voice, he says,] There was a boy. He is a strong boy, perhaps the strongest of his family, and though he is not the oldest he is the one the others trust to keep them safe.
[ Spam ]
They're close enough Ben could unfold them and touch Alex's arm, but he doesn't. He looks, he considers, and he counts down the beat of his own heart while he does so. Alex knows what Ben needs to know but Ben is the one with the words, and they need to be perfect. He can see that.
Letting out a slow breath, Ben straightens up where he's sitting, starts to shift back so he can pull his legs up under him.
In the same low, steady voice, he says,] There was a boy. He is a strong boy, perhaps the strongest of his family, and though he is not the oldest he is the one the others trust to keep them safe.