He's leaning over her, though he straightens once Athena rises. The hug is unexpected--his whole body tenses, surprise flickering across his features as Athena's small frame wraps around his own. She's distraught, angered, upset, and the Darkling is dimly aware that the other has her face pressed into his chest.

It's untowards. It's impolite. It hasn't happened in a very, very long time--not like this, though Zoya Nazyalensky has certainly curled up in his arms from time to time. This is something else, and after only a moment of hesitation, he puts a hand lightly on her, holding her stiffly. His grip tightens when she mentions Luda. His eyes narrow, too, and he glances down at what she'd been trying to pick up.

Ravkan coins. The exact type he used to throw in the fountain. What he'd told Alina about, what he'd claimed he'd use to make a wish. Athena seems genuinely disturbed, and then there's another matter: the Darkling pulls back, gripping Athena's shoulders gently, squeezing them not as a demand, but in reassurance. He makes sure to get eye contact with the other.

"Breathe." The calmness is there, though there's certainly a sense of urgency. It's a command in every sense of the word, and the softness an afterthought. "You saw Luda? What did you see, exactly?"