Soren couldn't help it, he pulled Riven even closer, almost crashing onto his chest. He knew he should push him away, that it would probably be smarter to let Riven have some space, but the moment he felt that warmth, that steady heartbeat under his cheek, he just…Couldn't.
He pressed his ear against Riven's chest and closed his eyes, breathing him in. The steady rhythm of Riven's heart was like an anchor, something that kept him from spiralling completely.
Riven sighed and wrapped his arms around Soren's head, fingers sliding through his hair in gentle, calming strokes. He kept petting him like he was soothing a scared animal.
"You know," Riven murmured, his voice soft and warm above Soren, "I already know a lot about you. About how you think. About what you've done."
Soren's fingers twitched against Riven's waist, then slowly dug in, hard enough to make Riven flinch. Not because it hurt, though it did a little, but because he could feel the raw emotion behind it.
