His eyes blink at the traces of tears in his eyes as he lifts his head from the wall when her hands move away. Her reaction is more intense than he had anticipated, catching a glimpse of her claws as she starts to shake with pure tension. Concern for her flares, but her head drops against his chest as she starts to exercise restraint with conscious acts of breathing.
“...Sadie,” his voice full of worry and a little hurt to see that his pain is causing her such distress. He adjusts his arms around her to lay one hand behind her head with fingers split to avoid covering her flattened ears to hold that arm vertical on her back with the other crossing diagonally to wrap his hand at her shoulder. He squeezes her in the hug, the strength of it encroaching on uncomfortable before it wanes to a supportive firmness. Bowing his head to touch his chin at her hair he whispers, “She left my life... Don’t let her twist you up.” Legally, he belongs with Agatha and Rosemary now. The only way his mother could hurt him further would be through his sister, and the woman cares for Emiko far more.
I do that waaaay too often
“...Sadie,” his voice full of worry and a little hurt to see that his pain is causing her such distress. He adjusts his arms around her to lay one hand behind her head with fingers split to avoid covering her flattened ears to hold that arm vertical on her back with the other crossing diagonally to wrap his hand at her shoulder. He squeezes her in the hug, the strength of it encroaching on uncomfortable before it wanes to a supportive firmness. Bowing his head to touch his chin at her hair he whispers, “She left my life... Don’t let her twist you up.” Legally, he belongs with Agatha and Rosemary now. The only way his mother could hurt him further would be through his sister, and the woman cares for Emiko far more.