Unsure if he was supposed to let Inigo or not, Gerome just kept his arms around him until Inigo actually pulled away. When he lifted his head though... he couldn't deny it hurt a little to see. He'd never really liked to see Inigo cry, though he tried hard to push that feeling aside once they were older. Inigo had been able to look after himself then, hadn't needed him nearly as much as when they had been younger.

So to be needed now, even in a small way... made a part of Gerome feel... something. Good? He wasn't sure. But he knew it was a risk to feel anything. Connecting with others was always a risk. They always...

Gerome blinked. The word he'd been thinking made him feel a little sick inside.

Isn't that why Inigo was crying on his shoulder. People left... People always left. Always died. Always...

But Inigo had always been around. Always been a fixture in his life. It would be so strange to have not have him there, now he was thinking about it. Even when they travelled to the past he'd known that somewhere out there Inigo was, waiting for him, waiting for them all to find each other again.

Gerome was very still and very quiet, without realising he'd done it, his arms had tightened around Inigo, almost clutching the other man to him in case he suddenly disappeared as well.