That's all the assurance Cia needs to surge past Karl and practically tackle Anders, clinging onto him desperately. "Don't ever do that again," ey says, half an order, half begging.

Anders hugs em back just as hard, pressing a kiss to eir temple. “I won’t, I promise. They’ll have to pull me kicking and screaming.”

Cia’s reaction is enough for Karl. He actually smiles, tears coming thick and fast. “You’re alive.” 

Anders reaches out a hand.

Karl steps into it, hugging him and Cia, tilting his head to kiss Anders fiercely. 

Raeli smiles, finally, breathing out. "Okay, you three, inside. You can continue this reunion there."

Anders kisses Karl back, then kisses his hairline, then kisses Cia’s head, clinging to them both. 

He laughs a little wetly. “Come on, we’re making a scene,” he laughs, letting Karl and Cia go just enough that they can move. 

Karl winds an arm around Anders waist, half expecting him to disappear once he’s not touching him. 

Cia starts to tuck emself against Anders other side, realises that'll make navigating the doorway tricky, pouts, and then slips ahead of them into the clinic.

Once they’re back inside the clinic, Anders is quick to gather Cia back into his arms. 

Home. 

Ey leans into him, wrapping eir own arms back around him.

Blaise is hovering by the door into the back, wringing his hands together.

Karl looks up to see Blaise, and smiles at him. "Everything's okay, now," he reassures.

"Better than okay," Anders murmurs into his hair. 

He turns to look around the room. "Where's Ilska?"

Blaise looks back, and he doesn't seem to be entirely present. "Not real. Not real. Shut up. Voices. Too loud. Not real."

Cia goes still. "-shit. She's--she thinks she's hearing things again."

"She thinks I'm not real." Anders heart breaks for her. "We better go prove she's not imagining me."

He takes Karl and Cia's hands in his.

Ilska's tucked into one of the corners, hands wound into her hair.

Anders gets a little closer, enough that he's within a couple of metres, and sends a small pulse of healing magic.

She glances up to him, and stops breathing for a moment. Then she presses her eyes closed, tugs violently at her hair. Opens her eyes again.

"-you real?"

"Very, I swear it. I can bring Justice out if you need proof."

"-don't particularly feel like being yelled at."

Anders laughs. "Agreed."

He lets go of Karl to open his arms to Ilska.

Karl keeps a hand on the small of Anders' back.

She pushes herself to her feet and steps in to hug him.