The breath is taken straight from his lungs at the way Malcolm falls into him. No… no, no, no, this isn’t right. He doesn’t deserve this. How can this place just keep taking from them?

“Hey. No. Okay? No, listen—” he pulls back just a fraction, just enough to look at Malcolm’s face. “No. We won’t let that happen, okay? I know that sounds empty right now, but we- we have to stick together, right? More than ever. The ones of us that are still here still need each other, and we can’t let go of that.” He kisses the top of Malcolm’s head and sighs softly into his hair. Klaus almost towers above him, all long, skinny lines and sharp angles, but he curls into him, letting the whole of his body circle around and protect Malcolm.