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"Abel?" Emily fluttered close and laid one hand on his shoulder. She hadn't seen him since the weapon and if she was being honest, she'd been worrying.
"Hey- Emily." He smiled at her but there was so often a little melancholy about him that made her heart ache.
"You know how brave you were down there, right?" She wasted no time in saying what she needed to, smiling softly, sincerely. "We couldn't have done it without you."
For a moment he looked caught off guard, then happy, pleased even, then bashful. "Oh, that? It was-"
"Everything." Emily gave his shoulder a squeeze. "Lute can be kind of scary." She laughed a little and her heart lifted as Abel grinned.
"So scary! I didn't think she'd listen but I had to try!"
"And you succeeded!" She hugged him tightly. "I'm so proud of you, and you know what?" Her eyes met his. "I think your mom would be too. And your dad."
He brightened so genuinely, Emily wanted to squeeze him again.
"Thanks, Emily."
Adam had been... a lot. He had none of Abel's gentleness, nor thoughtfulness, but he had been commanding; confident. He had been Abel's father, yet there had been such distance between them, when there were things they both could have taken from each other; so much more than agitation and sadness.
If Abel could be Abel, but find a little of Adam's self-assurance inside like he'd done down in Hell, he could be- would be- a wonderful leader. Of that? Emily was sure.