_{protective sentence starters : status / accepting.}

            _{as it usually is, the second someone shows elwood any trace of affection he’s inclined to run in the opposite direction for miles. though he’d never express it, the fear of being hurt and abandoned overwhelms any slight desire he may have that wants someone to simply care about him. there’s a retort on elwood’s lips before he so much as thinks, and he turns quickly, though the second he locks on brian’s eyes and sees the sincerity behind them, he’s left simultaneously terrified and breathless – for the simple fact that brian is looking at him like he means it. though brian and elwood may not have the best track record ( and to all that know them, there’s no denying that that’s an understatement ) brian has one thing gunning for him ; he’s never given elwood any reason to not trust him. he’s given elwood plenty of reasons over the years to dislike him, sure, but that isn’t a difficult thing to do – but to have elwood actually believe you? for him to trust you? that’s for the select few, and while brian might not be completely there yet, elwood trusts him enough to believe he wouldn’t lie to him.}

           _{which means by default if that’s the case, then brian must care, and elwood isn’t sure how to process that – he’s both flooded with emotion while also feeling so hollow and scared, because he hasn’t let himself open up to someone in so long, but maybe - just maybe - it’s about time that changed. swallowing thickly, the boy steps forward, standing on the tips of his toes to wrap his arms around brian’s neck and tug him down ; hugging him as tight as he can. it’s awkward, a little stiff and definitely unexpected, but for elwood it’s all he knows how to be when it comes to contact – so instead he sighs softly, biting his lip, voice a whisper.}

                                                                _{❛ … – – thank you.  ❜}