The first kiss and the squeeze of her arms has the intended effect of ending his stream of jumbled apologies with relenting exhale as the last of his prepared breath is released. Benjiro listens from her shoulder at first, turning his head to start looking upwards. Second kiss received, and he stays until she starts to shift blame onto herself. At the mention of the river, his brow pinches together, and as she tries to extend an apology, he lifts his head to look at her directly.

Benjiro slowly shakes his head, lifting his hand from his leg to reach up and cup her cheek, "No...no, you didn't do anything wrong, Sadie. Please, please don't think you didn't do enough. You have, you've been there for me every single day." Thumb brushing across her cheek, he leans his head forward to touch his forehead to hers as he tries to prevent the guilt from settling in her, "I've taken on a lot, I know, but it's not about what's happening now..."

Hesitation snares his words, eyes drifting in the direction of the blanketed weapons, but he turns his gaze back as he swallows a little roughy and draws out the thread common between his thoughts in his panic, "...it's what will happen."