Cole's body isn't a mortal body. He doesn't do things that mortals do, like sleep, or eat, or sweat. He doesn't need to breathe to be, though he generally does because it's simply a reflexive memory.

But despite that, he is starting to relax again. And then Ben speaks and all his fears and hurts flood Cole's awareness, pulling him out of his own head.

He shuffles himself up to press his head to Ben's chest and then tuck himself under his chin. His hair isn't soft because he's permanently grimy with dust and whatever else is around the place, but he smells like here, like Anchor. "You would survive. It would hurt, a lot, and you'd grieve and They'd grieve with you, but you'd survive and one day, you'd think back on the good things like ice cream and reading to me and be able to smile without it hurting."