Restoration

Before you can finish your description of the dream entirely, you bury your face in your arms with a few sniffles. You sit like that for a moment, then feel a warm embrace from each side of you, a...hug? It's been years since anyone has shown you any form of kindness, let alone a hug... it felt nice, you felt safe, funny since you're with two of the most dangerous and high-profile leaders, they could kill you for food any minute, but no, they're... hugging you. You continue sobbing, but they're no longer tears of sadness or fear, no, they're tears of happiness. Happiness... You hadn't felt that in years either, not since your lifelong best friend got ripped limb from limb by crilxoid-gone-mad. all you felt was a chilling numbness, and the occasional depression slump, until now. You leaned into someone's arms- you couldn't tell which it was, and felt the other reaching out to wipe the tears from your face. Opening your eyes, you see that Aeryn is holding you and Axon is wiping your face, both having a soft look in their expressions. Which seemed almost odd, as you'd only ever seen them in media with a stern, powerful expression, ready to take on this crisis caused by the former lady. You had forgotten that they felt empathy and could care too, you guess.
"poor kid..." you hear Aeryn mumble. Axon looks away from you and up at Aeryn, who's placed her head on yours.
"Mhm..." He looks back down at you and continues, "I'm sorry you had to experience that, and my condolences for your parents as well... I know what it's like to have your parents stripped from you as well..." He coughs and covers his mouth. "em...anyway..I think we should get back on our feet, no?" Aeryn looks down at you, considering her coldness earlier, seeing you crying must have triggered some sort of motherly instinct.
"What do you think?" You think for a minute and reluctantly nod, you really didn't want to leave this position, but you knew you'd spent enough time in this dusty place...
Axon stands and reaches out a gloved hand to help you up, you take it and shakily get up, your legs are still very unsteady, feeling as if you could collapse again at any moment. Eventually, you gain your balance and let go of Axon's hand with a slight nod and small smile.
"Thank you," you mumble, you were never very good at thanking people, often forgetting to even do so at all.
"Yes, of course." He returns with a nod of his own. Behind you, you can feel as Aeryn gets up as well and places her hands firmly on your shoulders.
"Well... This hike to the next ghost town ain't gonna make itself, now is it folks?" She laughs. Gee, it's been a while since you've heard anyone laugh too. The not-so-familiar sound lifts your spirits, just a little bit as the three of you gather loose items into your bags and make your way out the door, back into the blistering heat of the desert it is for you...