"Just a little hurt. I had some trouble with my ears..." Hartley pointed at them, as if that showed much. There were some stitches, there would be scars, but really nothing too bad. The real damage was inside and whatever he was experiencing now. His hearing had changed and he couldn't figure it out yet. But that had time.

For now he hugged a tiny bear and didn't even feel ridiculous for it. That was the James effect, never to be underestimated. "You don't have to. You know. Be nice to me. I know I fucked up."

Hartley said that, maturely and collected. Then he ruined it by wrapping his arms around James and burying his face against his neck. This was much better than a call to his parents.