Summary:

“Can you speak?” Ilya asks, voice soft and careful. He keeps combing his fingers through Shane’s hair. Shane opens his mouth, tries to produce a word, snaps his mouth closed as more tears rush to his eyes. “Okay, okay,” Ilya moves closer, kissing Shane’s cheek, his nose, his mouth. “You do not need to talk. You do not need words with me. You talk when ready.” OR: Shane goes non-verbal.