[He waits a second or two, expecting and giving Abbacchio the space to take his hand back. But it remains there and all it takes is a subtle shift of Bruno's arm to cover Abbacchio's hand with his own. Something similar happened with Giorno when he reached out. Bruno's not exactly a tactile person by nature, but he has a hard time ignoring touch now and not taking advantage of the ability to feel someone else's warm hand in his. The difference here, however, is that Bruno doesn't take his hand back shortly after. He keeps it there.]
I know.
[In the same way he knew Abbacchio would show up here eventually, he knows Abbacchio will always be at his side come hell or high water. It's an implicit trust and faith he places in Abbacchio. He looks over his shoulder to meet Abbacchio's eyes again. He gives his hand just a light squeeze.]
I'll be okay.
[It's not a lie this time because he isn't making a concerted effort to makes or to minimize anything. It's the barest of admissions that Bruno isn't okay now. It's a faint hope that he will, indeed, be okay eventually. Because he needs to be. Because he wants to be. He just hasn't figured out how to be yet, how to get there or what it will even look like. And that's been a part of his seemingly endless silence and brush-offs in response to any concern. He hasn't had any words for any of it until now. So, even though the ones he gives Abbacchio now are somewhat vague and nebulous in their shape and meaning, they're better than what he's had since he found himself here.]
evening action; 10/27
I know.
[In the same way he knew Abbacchio would show up here eventually, he knows Abbacchio will always be at his side come hell or high water. It's an implicit trust and faith he places in Abbacchio. He looks over his shoulder to meet Abbacchio's eyes again. He gives his hand just a light squeeze.]
I'll be okay.
[It's not a lie this time because he isn't making a concerted effort to makes or to minimize anything. It's the barest of admissions that Bruno isn't okay now. It's a faint hope that he will, indeed, be okay eventually. Because he needs to be. Because he wants to be. He just hasn't figured out how to be yet, how to get there or what it will even look like. And that's been a part of his seemingly endless silence and brush-offs in response to any concern. He hasn't had any words for any of it until now. So, even though the ones he gives Abbacchio now are somewhat vague and nebulous in their shape and meaning, they're better than what he's had since he found himself here.]
[It's a start.]