[Ryou's gaze is immediately drawn back to Atem when hands are placed on his shoulders. He almost wants to falter under Atem's gaze, but...he doesn't. he looks at him, listens to everything he's being told, and...when he's hugged and assuaged, the pain from such a movement definitely registers, and he stiffens. It's brief however, and he almost immediately returns the hug.

His arm wraps loosely around Atem, fingers weakly pressed to his side. Ryou buries his face into Atem's shoulder, for several long moments, before he turns his head and murmurs something quietly.]

You're not bad at it. you just...didn't know. I didn't tell you.

[His fingers grip more tightly, even though it hurts.]

But you're holding me. Th-that's enough. You make me feel...safe.

[And he means it. He really does. For all his diminutive stature most of the time, and even now as a relatively small naga...Atem is like a bastion. A fortress.]