"You're home, you're safe, it's just us okay? It's just us- and duke but he's in the other room it's okay it's-" It's okay. It's gonna be okay because he won't let it not be okay because they're fine. It's fine. Whatever has Malcolm all wound up they can talk through and it'll be. it'll be fine. He lowers an arm to get a good look at him, blood blinding one eye in a red smear, the rest of him made as small and harmless as possible.

He goes still.

Swallows.

"...Malcolm? Are you with me, boo?"