[It's a long moment before he even notices the offer. Time needed for the burning of his eyes to subside, and to be able to speak again without worrying about the strain of his voice. The grief, the fear, the guilt, all carefully tucked away for a time that was always some nebulous later, that never seemed to come.]

[So it's a moment before he turns back to Era, looking a little more presentably contained. And another moment still as he looks down at her offered hand, as if he has to understand why its there.]

[It's so small compared to his own, he thinks, calloused fingers engulfing her hand completely as he takes it. And that carefully maintained neutrality cracks just a little when he pulls her close, bandaged arm going around her in a loose embrace.]

...we're going to save Alfonse. Cid will have all the information he needs when they finish breaking down Emerald, and we will stop him.

I know that we will.