These were all practical, perfunctory touches. They had purpose, with no affection to them whatsoever. If Deacon squeezed her shoulder before he let go or she ran her hand over the bandage one more time than was absolutely necessary it was just a fluke of human contact.
So when Deacon walked into their room in the Hotel Rexford to find Ruby sitting on the edge of the bed crying, she fully expected him to turn right back around and walk out. He seemed uncomfortable with emotions in general; she wouldn't be hurt by his refusing to deal with hers. She buried her face in her hands to give him the chance to leave without her watching. When she heard the door click shut she expected that he was on the other side of it.
Instead the mattress dipped as his weight settled next to hers, and his arm wrapped around her shoulders. She froze in shock, stiffening under his touch. His arm stiffened in turn and he started to remove it, taking her shock as resistance.
She didn't want him to remove it. She wanted the comfort, some moment where she didn't have to be a General or a Fixer or a survivor. She just wanted to be a grieving widow and a worried mother. Just for a moment. So she leaned into him, resting her weight against his and her head against his shoulder.
It took a moment, but he rested his arm back around her shoulder, his fingers grasping her arm lightly. He didn't speak, didn't even really move, just sat there and let her cry quietly into his chest for a bit. Which was really all Ruby needed, was that quiet moment.
Eventually she cried herself out, her eyes sore and her face red and puffy, and she raised her head to sit up a little straighter. She wanted to say something, to thank him or crack a joke, but she didn't want to break this moment. She didn't want him to move away.
But he did, in time. Squeezed her shoulder a little and withdrew his arm. She leaned away from him, already mourning the loss.
"Thanks Deac." Her voice was hoarse and scratchy, her throat sore.
His reply was quiet, almost inaudible. "Anytime, Fix."
