(Nate's mouth trembles, as if it's forcing itself shut.)
(The usually defensive glare in his eyes, fades.)
(He's the one, who turns his head to directly look at you.)
(Into your eyes.)
(His pupils tremble too, as a wavy mumble escapes him)

"Please"

(Nate eyes pressed themselves shut.)
(...His hands grip your shoulders.)
(You can feel him shaking as he speaks.)

"Please... promise me something."

(The emphasis of that word isn't lost on you.)

"Promise me...you'll take care of her, when I'm not there."

(Nate opens his eyes and locks glances with yours.)

"That you'll look after her."

(Nate's eyes softened as his voice fought the urge to crack.)

"Make her smile...in the way you always do."

"..."

"...Could you do that for me?"

..."

"Nat..."

"Please."

(His voice shook again.)
(...Though hushed, you could feel the power of the request.)
(Your throat tightens.)

"..."

(You hate making promises.)
(The last thing you want to do, is let him down.)
(But when he looks at you like that...)

(How could you say no?)
(To him.)
(To this...)

.(...)
(It fills your heart with a melancholic understanding...)
(...That maybe just this once)
(You'll make an exception.)

"I promise, Nat."
"I'll do everything I can."
"For her..."

(There's a pause, locking glances again at your teammates grief stricken eyes.)

"For you."

(Nate blinks, his misty eyed glare wavers as he rubs fractions of tears forming in his eye ducts.)
(Looking at him now...)
(...Makes you feel as if you're finally seeing him, really, for the very first time.)

(He was beautiful.)
(Like in the way a baby dove, had just learned to fly.)
(Messy...but monumental...)
(Vulnerable.)

(Even if it wasn't in the promise...)
(...You had to protect that, too.)

Clasp

...

(...You wrap Nate in a warm embrace.)

"I've got you, Nate-a-rino."

(Your fake employed confidence was evident, heart aching saying those words.)
(Your chest constricted with the shared sorrow wafting through the room.)

(...)

(You had to protect him.)

(Protect him like he'd always protected her.)
(Like he protects you.)

(After all. You'd already made that promise.)

(And you were going to keep it.)

(...)
(Nate voice trembles, as he squeezes you in his grasp.)
(As if a child, rescued from the monster laying under their bed.)
(You didn't need to look at his eyes to know they were coming up wet.)

(...God knows how you'd feel if you saw them now.)

(Up close, you could feel how fragile he really was...)
(For a moment, you forget to breathe as you feel up Nate's lower back. His muscles were still tense.)
(When you brush your hands against them though...)
(...The heaviness subsides.)
(...He softens to your touch.)

"Thank you."