[Rufus' hand turns to slide fingers between his own, and Rude doesn't say anything else. What else can he say? He can't take back what happened to him, and he definitely can't retroactively put himself where he wasn't, but what he can do is make sure nothing like that ever happens again while he's alive to do something about it.
And if he ever gets back to his real time, he'll make sure none of it ever happens.
Rude notices the tremble of his body, and immediately turns to drape his other arm over those shoulders, pulling Rufus in toward him for a hug out of pure reflex alone. It's not professional at all, but no one was watching, and he couldn't just leave him to deal with all of that on his own. No. He was here now, and so they could share that burden. It's a wonder he manages to remain so composed, but Rude suspects it has to do with how upset he is at himself and the situation as a whole.]
It's okay. I won't let anything like that happen to you again.
[Some days Rufus surprised everyone, and they all wondered if the man really needed protecting at all. This was a much-needed reminder of who he was and why he and the Turks needed each other. The world was dangerous, even when you were trying to help fix it.]
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And if he ever gets back to his real time, he'll make sure none of it ever happens.
Rude notices the tremble of his body, and immediately turns to drape his other arm over those shoulders, pulling Rufus in toward him for a hug out of pure reflex alone. It's not professional at all, but no one was watching, and he couldn't just leave him to deal with all of that on his own. No. He was here now, and so they could share that burden. It's a wonder he manages to remain so composed, but Rude suspects it has to do with how upset he is at himself and the situation as a whole.]
It's okay. I won't let anything like that happen to you again.
[Some days Rufus surprised everyone, and they all wondered if the man really needed protecting at all. This was a much-needed reminder of who he was and why he and the Turks needed each other. The world was dangerous, even when you were trying to help fix it.]