John lets him have that, tugs on his own pants and doesn’t bother with a shirt. It’s as much for him as it is for Jack—he’s tactile as hell, and John knows he needs it, has come to be more aware of how desperately he needs touch to stay grounded, in control.
Even if it’s just a fist or an elbow in a stick fight.
When they’re both dressed, John crosses over to pull Jack into his arms again, giving in to that urge to just…wrap him up and not let go. Hold him, seal those broken pieces together, stop the pain.
“If someone hurt you while I was gone,” John whispers, pressing a kiss to Jack’s temple, lingering there with a sigh, “I’m going to kill them. If something happened to hurt you, I’ll help you make it right. Whatever it is, Jack…I’m here.”
He lets a hand fall to Jack’s chest again, laying over that stretch of fabric where his dog tags sit.
CW: very mild allusion to self harm
Even if it’s just a fist or an elbow in a stick fight.
When they’re both dressed, John crosses over to pull Jack into his arms again, giving in to that urge to just…wrap him up and not let go. Hold him, seal those broken pieces together, stop the pain.
“If someone hurt you while I was gone,” John whispers, pressing a kiss to Jack’s temple, lingering there with a sigh, “I’m going to kill them. If something happened to hurt you, I’ll help you make it right. Whatever it is, Jack…I’m here.”
He lets a hand fall to Jack’s chest again, laying over that stretch of fabric where his dog tags sit.
“I’m here.”