[ this time, he anticipates the hug, and lets himself be pulled closer, leaning his head against cora's shoulder as he fights against the burning in his eyes, the slight blurring of his sight.

he blinks furiously, long enough to make them go away. ]

I couldn't tell you, before... [ well. before everything. ] And then you were gone and all I could think was you died without ever knowing —

[ it had seemed so unfair. but now... now he knows, and the relief that law feels is almost crushing. that particular nightmare can never get to him again. he's finally fixed one of his biggest regrets. ]