vax gives percy a smile, a little sad, a little unsure. he hates that his friends are hurting like this after his death, though he can't say their death would have treated him any kinder. if anything, he'd be harder on himself than they, than percy.

something inside vax'ildan sparks alive when percy touches his hand, setting forth a flame in his hips that he can't quite explain away. he can feel the reddening in his cheeks, and it's. warm. very warm. he doesn't want to let percy's hand go, so he doesn't, instead channeling this newfound energy into continuing their walk forward with percy's hand in his.

"we're almost there."