His sobs quieted to shuddering breaths, and you gently wiped at the tracks his tears had left on his flushed cheeks. Your thumb pressed lightly against the damp skin, a silent anchor as you waited for the storm to pass. Erdeen had been a ghost of himself lately—a quieter, more reserved version of the man you knew.

He was naturally reserved, but this was a heavy, suffocating silence.

"Feeling a bit better?" you murmured, shifting closer. You watched him carefully, giving him the space to accept or decline the unspoken offer of a hug. A shirt stained with tears and snot was a small price to pay for his comfort.

"Can you tell me what's been weighing on you?" you asked softly. "You haven't been yourself."