Boys Don't Cry - The Cure

He took the last swig of the tea, from the cup, still feverish, still fighting his own apparitions. But he had a feeling his were pale in comparison to hers. Shit.

The fear on her face made his own skin pale. Fuck, she was going to relive her worst nightmare. There was nothing he could do. Oleander had dealt with apparitions and hallucinations since he was a child in the deepest throws of his own childhood sickness. He hadn't needed to deal with them for a while now.

He chewed his cheek as he watched her put her neck out, whispering in the most pitiful way he had never heard her speak. If he moved, she might mistake him for an abuser. If he touched her she might lash out... Except she wouldn't lash out... She would comply... in the worst way possible. Take the patient's history into account. He wouldn't dream of hurting her, he only wanted to help. Don't come at her from behind, don't push her around. He slowly and quietly reached out a paw, across the table toward her. He would let her touch him first.

"I'm the only one here. We're the only ones here Ves. I promise to never hurt you again. I'm the only one here. We're the only ones here, Vesper... I will not hurt you." He repeated over and over quietly. His heart thrummed against his chest. She seemed blind to everything around her. At least the apparitions couldn't touch you. It was usually how he figured out what was real or not. The tiger continued to circle and would leap occasionally at him only for nothing to happen.

"Speech"