"Yes," murmurs Cole as the torch becomes easier to see, only when Steven gets close. He moves closer still, still slowly, cupping his hands around Near as if to protect, even though she knows just as well as he does - they are in no danger.
Steven feels very curious. Young but old, happy but sad, both bright and shadowed. The kindness, though, the compassion - that is strong enough that Cole feels almost a kinship with him.
Most importantly, though he is at least partly a child, he is not afraid, not of the deep darkness that surrounds them, not of Cole. Dark is frightening - there are bad things hiding in the dark, bad memories of pain and hunger. But Steven has faced fear before.
"I'm here," says Cole again, reaching out toward the torch so the glow catches his hand. "Have you dreamed like this before?" Cole remembers the dream where he met Daine, but it was so different.
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Steven feels very curious. Young but old, happy but sad, both bright and shadowed. The kindness, though, the compassion - that is strong enough that Cole feels almost a kinship with him.
Most importantly, though he is at least partly a child, he is not afraid, not of the deep darkness that surrounds them, not of Cole. Dark is frightening - there are bad things hiding in the dark, bad memories of pain and hunger. But Steven has faced fear before.
"I'm here," says Cole again, reaching out toward the torch so the glow catches his hand. "Have you dreamed like this before?" Cole remembers the dream where he met Daine, but it was so different.