"It's okay," he whispers, the arm around her shoulder tightening as Pongo sniffs at her feet - nosing against her ankle.

"Shh... listen..." subconsciously, he strokes his palm over the back of her head only once - attempting to draw the pain away from her.

"We both know that you don't want to hurt anyone, but sometimes the truth has to hurt."

The thought is out of nowhere for him, plucked from the vault within him that didn't come from a textbook or a lecture... it just feels like the right thing. Like what she needs.