In a wave of urgency, Hans awoke with an ear piercing cry, sticky sweat drenched his face and body under the deer-skinned blankets.
"Hans!" A loud voice, followed by the pounding of feet, Kristoff ushered to the prince's side, took notice of his hyperventilation, the larger male grabbed Hans roughly by the shoulders, attempted to hold him steady.
"Hans, look at me."
With Kristoff in attempt to take control of the situation, Hans shook and shuddered as his wide peridot colored eyes stared back at Kristoff's chocolate browns, who in turn stared back with brows furrowed in determination.
"Just keep focusing on me okay? Breathe."
Shuddering still, though breaths become less quick and rapid, Hans' expression of fearful rage began to melt away into an exhausted breathlessness. Although this expression went away quickly, replacing with a fixed indifference, his tired eyes, drooping posture, betrayed any attempts to hide any vulnerabilities. Raw and exposed, Kristoff did not miss the emotional exhaustion that was expressed from the prince.
Holding Hans' in place, for what was a few minutes or so, Kristoff removed his hands and shifted towards the foot of Hans' bed in order to give him breathing room. Hans' hands held the blanket close to his chest, and his eyes shifted their glance from the ice harvester to the hearth.
Kristoff searched the other man for any other expression, possibly an explanation, but seeing only placidity, did not press Hans or one.
"Well...whatever happened, you seem okay now right? I don't want to babysit you or nothing, in fact just only say something if it's an emergency, even then, don't bug me. You got that sideburns?"
Ginger brows furrow at the iceman's words, but he does not look to the other man's direction until he responds,
"I'm fine. And I "got it"."
Staring at each other, Kristoff tested the other to say more and come clean, while Hans challenged him to press on, inquire and interrogate him as a peacekeeper would with any convict.
Once Kristoff was sure Hans would not say anything more, a harrumphed noise arose in the back of his throat while he arose from the bedside. As he made his leave, Hans' glance followed the man's exit. It wasn't until Hans knew without a doubt that the other side of the home that he completely exhaled, lied on his back still like a soldier. While he attempted to rest, though not to the point of deep slumber, a few tears trickled down his freckled face.