[ it sounds absurd because it is absurd, but that's the reality he's dealing in, raleigh. he can't watch the other man's sympathy, eyes drawn immediately back down to his hands. but that's when the other man pitches forward to embrace him. it startles him, though he doesn't jerk away, remaining stock still even as max squirms away from them with a distressed little whine in protest. HOW DARE ]

Uh. [ he utters lamely, but then he's dropping his own knitting to the bed and letting his head fall heavily to the cap of the man's shoulder. it eases some of the pressure in his chest, breaking up all the ugliness converging there; and he's able to let out a soft sob of pure despair. frank hadn't allowed himself to truly grieve, he couldn't while the men responsible were still out there. it takes a moment, but then his fingers are curling in the fabric of raleigh's jumpsuit as he scoots closer to the man and his heat in desperation. tears are soaking through his sleeve in no time at all, frank's shoulder's jumping as silent cries rack his whole body back to front. ]

I shoulda... I should've saved 'em. Shoulda never been in danger at all. May as well pulled the trigger myself. [ he babbles incoherently against the other man's throat, eyes squeezed tightly shut as raleigh holds him. ]