Ben nods when Cole tells him not to shine any more light; he believes him, that it's the best way to keep safe. But the darkness of the cell, those close thick walls, are making it a little difficult to breathe. His eyes are drawn to the shackles on the wall again, and he shivers, shutting his eyes tightly.
He holds Cole's hand back, tightly, and it's not just to comfort his friend, anymore. Not when Cole reassures him that he won't be seen if he doesn't want to be. Ben believes that - he's a spirit, after all. So that means, as Cole makes so clear a moment later, the danger is just to him.
And these aren't the bank robbers and art thieves he'd dealt with as a kid, or those slow-shambling zombies he'd fought off at that Whole Foods. They are Templars. Templars have powers - he remembers that much from what Cole's told him of Thedas. Could they stop him using his powers? Catch him off guard, render him helpless? He can't count on being able to defend himself the way he's used to, against people like that.
Ben knows that, with Cole, emotions can become like a feedback loop. What he ought to be doing now is remaining as calm as he can, to soothe some of Cole's anxiety over being in this familiar, fucking horrible place. But it doesn't work like that. Now that the fear is sinking its claws deeper and deeper into his chest, Ben doesn't know how to tear it free. He can hide it externally, the way he'd learned to do so well while he was alive the first time. But that would mean nothing for Cole. He will still know, still feel it.
When that red line of light appears, Ben doesn't breathe, heartbeat racing faster still, adrenaline coursing through him. He doesn't move, doesn't make a sound, just grips Cole's hand as tight as he can.
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He holds Cole's hand back, tightly, and it's not just to comfort his friend, anymore. Not when Cole reassures him that he won't be seen if he doesn't want to be. Ben believes that - he's a spirit, after all. So that means, as Cole makes so clear a moment later, the danger is just to him.
And these aren't the bank robbers and art thieves he'd dealt with as a kid, or those slow-shambling zombies he'd fought off at that Whole Foods. They are Templars. Templars have powers - he remembers that much from what Cole's told him of Thedas. Could they stop him using his powers? Catch him off guard, render him helpless? He can't count on being able to defend himself the way he's used to, against people like that.
Ben knows that, with Cole, emotions can become like a feedback loop. What he ought to be doing now is remaining as calm as he can, to soothe some of Cole's anxiety over being in this familiar, fucking horrible place. But it doesn't work like that. Now that the fear is sinking its claws deeper and deeper into his chest, Ben doesn't know how to tear it free. He can hide it externally, the way he'd learned to do so well while he was alive the first time. But that would mean nothing for Cole. He will still know, still feel it.
When that red line of light appears, Ben doesn't breathe, heartbeat racing faster still, adrenaline coursing through him. He doesn't move, doesn't make a sound, just grips Cole's hand as tight as he can.