[The first sound of that voice, weak as it starts out, snaps all Hank’s emotions into sharp focus, alert. He watches Cayde like there’s no one else in the world, listens like they’re the only words he’s ever going to hear. That first part’s true, in a way; the second one might still be, if something goes wrong.

He thinks over what Cayde said as quick as he can. He still doesn’t know much so he’s got to he careful to he vague, and he’s got to make sure he doesn’t seem like a threat so his voice comes out conciliatory, even friendly.]

Well, I’m working on fixing that. [If he’s able to get out of this creepy hellhole, neither of them will have to worry about where he’s supposed to be.] If you need to get going go right ahead, last thing I wanna do’s get in your way.

[It’s bizarre, hearing that tone come out of his mouth while his fingers are still so tight on Cayde, tight with a grip that gets harder to loosen as he feels a couple more tiny drops of blood come from nowhere, feels them sliding down his face and into his hair. But he’s going to fucking control himself. Cayde talking to him at all was a breakthrough, Hank can lose his shit later when it’s not going to fucking kill him.]