The steadying hand is all that's needed, really; anything more would be overwhelming for one generally so unused to affirming physical contact, though at the onset of the touch a new specter appears. Familiar to both of them, Colin sits on the other side of the doorway, his face open and brimming with sympathy.

Benedict lets the moment pass and looks up, his eyes darting to Byerly's before he glances abruptly away again, not wanting to scare him off. He focuses on Colin instead, but finds the spirit's presence rather more calming than the force behind it intends.

"I should have treated him better," Bene says with wretched sincerity, "...I should've treated everyone better."
His gaze returns to Byerly once more, more assertively. He means it. He's not going to break down again, but there's a turning point happening, and it occurs to him how necessary it is that the ambassador recognize his resolve.