Benedict stands silently behind Kate and listens to everyone speak, his palm resting heavily on her shoulder, keeping her grounded and silently offering her what support he can.
He can feel her practically vibrating beneath his palm, trembling with tension as she hugs her ribs and all but bounces on the balls of her feet. Luckily, he can see over the top of her head without even trying, so her tension doesn't disturb his ability to surveil the room, but it's distracting enough that he wants to say something to her to help some of the painful rigidity ease out of her muscles.
Leaning down, he squeezes her shoulder lightly with the hand he's still got on her, taking a moment to press his lips to the crown of her head in something that's not quite a kiss, his other hand settling on her left arm and rubbing up and down briefly.
"Katie," he murmurs into her hair, warring with the urge to tell her to relax. How could he? This situation does not warrant relaxation, but he doesn't know how else to comfort her.
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He can feel her practically vibrating beneath his palm, trembling with tension as she hugs her ribs and all but bounces on the balls of her feet. Luckily, he can see over the top of her head without even trying, so her tension doesn't disturb his ability to surveil the room, but it's distracting enough that he wants to say something to her to help some of the painful rigidity ease out of her muscles.
Leaning down, he squeezes her shoulder lightly with the hand he's still got on her, taking a moment to press his lips to the crown of her head in something that's not quite a kiss, his other hand settling on her left arm and rubbing up and down briefly.
"Katie," he murmurs into her hair, warring with the urge to tell her to relax. How could he? This situation does not warrant relaxation, but he doesn't know how else to comfort her.