[there's a flip of a switch, in a way - watching embry go from cheery and ready to waltz off the lot like he's an elementary school teacher getting an unexpected snow day to walls up and digging his heels in about this. it seems like a simple enough request - get the black eye checked out, make sure he doesn't have a concussion or worse, and take some time away from the invasive trauma of having his sacred albeit temporary space invaded. but then embry keeps talking, and hawk starts feeling more and more the severity and guilt of what's transpired here today. he's right, and he's got no reason to trust any of them at this point - regardless of how decent an experience hawk has been trying to make this for him. anyone would be fucking scared and violated by waking up to someone in their trailer and getting socked in the face. which is all embry's copped to, up until he spills the rest of it.

jesus. yeah, it's a lot worse than he thought as he whips off and pockets his own sunglasses, folding his arms across his chest to give embry his full attention. not that it didn't sound like an offer dripping in mild sarcasm - but the it's the least he can do, and he needs to know how bad this really got from his earlier hesitations. his eyes take in the cheekbone, visibly mottled skin peeking through the concealer and heavy foundation that's been dabbed on for the shoot. that's already a goddamn travesty - not that anyone deserves to get suckerpunched, but especially not one with immaculate bone structure that looks carved by the hands of god and relies on it for a moneymaker.

but it's the next part hawk swallows hard at, reluctantly letting his gaze dip down to the even more breathtaking view of sculpted abdomen and lithe figure in front of him. it's not like he hasn't seen it in passing - knowing it's not movie magic when embry's on screen in his past films looking quite that enticing. but seeing it up close and in this context makes his gaze shoot back up, filled with genuine concern and doing his best to keep pity out of it, thinking that might irritate him further. there's no other lines he needs to read between or guess at - though frankly, he wonders if embry would have told him had anything worse happened, god forbid.

against his better judgment, hawk reaches to pull the hem of his sweater back down with a nod of understanding.]

You've got every reason not to trust any of us right now. I get that. Nothing's gonna fix the feeling of waking up like that - so I'll spare you another apology.

But you have my word: I'm going to make this right, Embry. I'm going to get to the bottom of it, and I'm going to make sure whoever did this gets their ass tossed where the sun doesn't shine.

I'm going to try and earn your trust, if you'll let me.

[he tips his head down, expression softening mildly as he watches all the fight seemingly deflate out of his lead. yeah, he's got to be exhausted.]

You're not off the movie. I'm not firing my star.

[i need you, almost slips out from his lips - but he can't bring himself to say it somehow, wondering if it would even mean anything. but his voice lowers again, something that's meant to reassure.]

I'm not making you do anything you don't want to do around here. Take the day - get some rest. I'll call you when we're back on track, okay?

[before he can think better of it, he puts a hand on embry's shoulder, squeezing briefly in passing. and then he straightens up, stepping away and back to business as he puts his sunglasses on again with another easy flick of his wrist. and while he's here, might as well - he fishes out another cigarette, cupping a hand to light it before exhaling off to the side.]

Were you lying about the car? You can borrow my driver for the afternoon if you want to get out of here sooner. He's not very talkative, and I'm pretty sure he's a black belt in something.

[it's a light tease, and hawk lifts his brows with an easy shrug. but the offer's sincere.]