extent | duplicitynet

[ ragnor still has a hand resting on nick's back, he waves his free one and a transparent veil falls over them, a glamour to hide them from view. ]

There, you are hidden from view now.

[ if nick were his student he'd already be pushing harder. pride should come second to well-being. ]

( it’s actually a pretty smart move — not that nick could have done it himself, but there’s certainly a comfort that comes with not being exposed to the world. anyone could have overheard them before now, after all. he’s really been so careless.

but he shrugs and leans back into the hand on his back. he’s hardly touch-starved, but normally any contact he has is pretty specifically loaded. touching just for the sake of touching, a friendly gesture and nothing more, that’s incredibly unusual and he’s only really now starting to realise that. )

I really think I’m fine, you know. This whole...talking thing was enough. I’m not going to have a breakdown.

[ ragnor leans back too and moves his arm around to nick's shoulder so it's more of a half hug. it's still loose enough for him to get out of it easily, but ragnor's hoping he won't. ]

You don't have to be fine, not at the moment. [ he's looking at nick, brows furrowed, concerned. ] Right now you are safe. I can promise you that much.

[ he means it. he's not one to make empty promises and right now he'd set the entire block on fire before letting nick get hurt. ]

You can't, though.

( it's not even particularly accusatory, just a sad statement to match the sad little shrug that follows it. nick doesn't doubt that ragnor is powerful. he doesn't even have to look to know that, he can feel it, but–

so is magnus, and look at all the good it did him. )

I'm not safe here, no one's safe when they can just do...whatever the fuck they want with us.

( but he'll allow a hug, leaning slightly into ragnor's side and trying to fight the frown off of his face. it's a losing battle though, and when he adds something else, it's a lot quieter. a comment to himself, more than ragnor. )

I don't feel safe here anymore. Anywhere.

I can promise you safety right now.

[ but he understands why nick can't believe it. he rubs nick's shoulder, trying to be soothing. ]

You've trusted me this far, trust me on that too. No harm will come to you while I am here.

I’m just...tired.

( he doesn’t really believe it yet, but some of the tension in his muscles unknots as he slumps back into the bench and that at least is something. )

Can you- do you mind- ( he sniffs, keeps his eyes on his hands. god, this is embarrassing. ) Could you take me home? I don’t...want to walk around this place alone like this.

( emotional, upset, exhausted. it just seems like asking for trouble. )

Of course. Government housing?

[ he could portal them there, he's sure nick knows this, but he also knows magnus must have used portals before and anxiety triggers are hard to predict, so he decides not to offer.

he stands and offers nick a hand, intending to wrap an arm around him again as soon as nick's on his feet. ]

I can keep us hidden until we're there.

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