[ The part of Val that reaches for the worst case scenario, first, doesn't fully believe it until Kazu's arms wrap around him—maybe he was simply going crazy in his grief and seeing things, stranger things have happened. But, no, Kazu's arms are as strong as they ever were, and his breath is warm against his neck. Kazu's here, Kazu's alive, and Val doesn't understand how this is possible, but right now he doesn't care.

There's wetness in his eyes, too, when Kazu lifts his head, and for a moment Val doesn't speak at all. He just brings a hand around to cup his face and stares, as if he still can't quite believe what he's seeing. Even when the moment of silence passes, that look doesn't totally fade. ]

I should be asking you that question. You— I saw you—

[ He doesn't understand how he was taken, how he ended up in this place, but it makes even less sense for Kazu. How do you kidnap a dead man? ]