The healing effect kicks in immediately, the pain giving one last throb of defiance before smoothing away to nothing. Cracks in the rock shrink and heal over as though they'd never been there but for the stains left behind. Greg's breathing evens out, and his grip on Steven shifts from desperate and defiant to grateful.

Only after Irvine's slipped away does Greg's skin begin to soften to flesh again, but he doesn't loosen his hold on Steven. His head tucked in close to Steven's, he breathes in his kin's familiar and assuring scent.

"Thank goodness. Oh thank goodness. Thank you." He murmurs it, again and again.