`` ᴊ ᴀ ᴋ о ʙ

she is so young, she is practically a child. he wonders what she was doing in a war like that one. he offers a smile and a shrug, though it doesn’t entirely reach his eyes. those will be haunted for some time to come.

Caring Edition

he’s quiet as he watches her move about, preparing the tea, making him comfortable. the war has only been over a couple weeks, but already jakob has noticed an intense dichotomy in the way people treat him. they either keep that look in their eyes, the look that’s almost disappointed that he still exists, that HE MADE IT OUT. or, they treat him like he’s fragile, BREAKABLE. as if he hadn’t just survived and made it out the other end of an institution that had tried very hard to kill him. not to sound ungrateful. he could do with a bit of being taken care of, but he also isn’t a baby bird with anabandoned nest and broken wing. but he smiles and glances up. 

EVEN  IF  THEIR  ‘GUESTS’  were  stronger  than  they  often  were,  no  ones,  let  alone  Katherine  would  dream  of  treating  them  as  if  they  were  anything  less  than  guests,  a  striving  for  normalcy,  humanity.    Neither  were  they  inexperienced,  though,  it  seemed,  someone  had  failed  to  bring  provisions  on  their  turn,  the  young  woman  regretting  not  checking  the  last  time  she  was  there  as  she  watched  how  he  scoffed  down  the  cookies.    Practically  jumping  to  her  feet  as  he  asked  for  more,  she  simply  brought  the  box  over,  setting  it  in  front  of  him  with  a  concerned  glance.    ❝  Eat  as  many  as  you  need,  even  if  it’s  all  of  them,  and  I’ll  see  that  David  brings  food  by  tomorrow  morning  for  breakfast.  ❞    He  would  recieve  a  talking  to,  that’s  for  certain.

he nods his thanks, though he doesn’t really have the intention of eating all of them. but once he starts, it feels nearly impossible to stop. and, strangely, as he eats, his eyes tear up and near the end, he has to take a moment to clear his throat and lower his head, not expecting this sudden emotional reaction. 

   As his arms are slung around his father and he feels the embrace of the older man, Erik can’t help but breathe in his scent as his body is shaking from emotions. It’s so familiar, and yet so strange. So long hasn’t he touched him, seen him, felt his embrace and warmth. So long has he gone without it - and now it all comes back.    “Versprich es mir…versprich mir dass du mich nie wieder verlassen wirst…”

and just like that, max is a boy again, small and lanky with limbs too long for the rest of him. tears spring to jakob’s eyes and he doesn’t bother trying to hide them. he squeezes his son tighter.