One Man's Treasure - 34

Mild surprise crossed his features as she so suddenly grabbed him. It was a genuine emotion, if it was just a flicker. He had not anticipated such a sudden, jolting shift. But he did not stop her. It was what he wanted, in the end. He wanted her to trust him. Because once humans gave their trust to a person, things became so much easier. They stopped questioning strange things. Stopped looking for motives. Stopped demanding answers. It was a thread which led to directly to a person's heart, and if tugged just right could make them do just about anything.

He moved an arm around her, going through all of the motions to convey hesitant comfort, as if uncertain of what had just occurred. He braced himself on the seat for a moment with one hand, as she tugged him forward. His other hand came up to rest on her back, between her shoulders. And in small increments, he relaxed, accepting the position of a shoulder to cry on. His other hand came up to embrace her as well, gently rubbing over her back. Unseen to her, his expression twisted to show the utter disgust he felt inside himself. How the angels could do these things on a daily basis he could never understand. Humans were pathetic the way they gave in to such weaknesses and those do-gooders encouraged the release of emotion and all of that.

"There there..." he said, mimicking the tone he'd heard from them so often. That comforting, warm, soothing near whisper. Any number of the god-slaves would have added the added benefit of their own brand of influence. To give strength and courage, to inspire toward all that is good. That was not something he could do. Even if he could disguise his touch enough to get past her defenses, he could never bring himself to push anyone in that direction. Helping the other side, in even such a trivial way, was something he would never allow himself to do. It was something he would never even fathom. "...let it all out..." he added, as he at last brought his expression under control.