[He steps in right beside her - lets it swallow him up whole]

[The feeling is the same as last time, a burning so intense that he forgets to breathe - forgets he can breathe - makes a soft sound that leaves him as bubbles floating up toward the surface]

[His hand is still in hers, somehow - still holding on - and his fingers close down tighter as the sensation washes over him, threatening to burn out everything inside. Hold onto yourself, he said - but it seemed easier, last time, to know who that even was]