reasons B might be holding A’s face in both hands
• calming A down or keeping them from passing out. “it’s just you and me, yeah? you and me, breathing. you can do that, right, A? c’mon. breathe with me again.”
• distracting A from a heavily bleeding wound or broken bone being set. “ah, ah, ah. look at me. lemme see those pretty brown eyes.”
• shaking them back to awareness, or trying. “A? jesus. A?! you with me?”
• pulling them out of a trance or a freeze-up. “hey. hey.” *pats A on the cheek* “there you are. keep moving, kid.”
• B brushes away A’s tears with the rough pads of their thumbs. could be hospital aftermath, or the end of a traumatic, adrenaline charged moment and the realization of the true cost is hitting A like a ton of bricks. “i know,” B whispers. doesn’t shy away from the uncontrolled, raw display of emotion. holds fast. “i know.”
• A desperately needs rest and finally passes out with B there to anchor them. “let go, kid. i’ve got you.”