[A few minutes under such circumstances can feel like an eternity. Vance of all people should know this, and yet he can't bring himself to move or even speak as he tries to get his shit together. The words though... No, they're helping more than Shades even realizes. Because it's normal, it's stupid bullshit he can't stop saying, and that's enough to relax him.

It's a small shift at first, a clenching and unclenching of his fists in the other's shirt before he undoes the work done to wrap him up. Because Vance is once again grabbing his cape and wrapping it around both of them before he moves just enough to look up at the asshole. The tear stains are still there, that stupid diluted red he hadn't managed to brush off against his shirt, but he's not mad. Worried, yeah that's not too easy to get rid of. Tired, annoyed, but it's all directed more internally than external. The soft, amused snort he gives is enough indication that he finds the tirade as entertaining as always.]

I... Shit... Maybe I overreacted, I just... I know you can do better, okay? But I know you wouldn't, I mean, actually want to find someone else. It's... I knew you were joking. Fuck, you're lucky I knew it was a stupid fucking joke, because if I'd believed you... I don't think I'd be here right now. I wouldn't have wanted to hear the rest of whatever the fuck you were planning on saying. It was stupid but... You know I get pissed off easier than any motherfucker we know and... it's a defense mechanism and... You scared me, ok?

[It's hard for him to say, to even get the words right, but... He tries.]