He's surprised at the gesture, but soon pulls Emet-Selch close and holds onto him just as tightly. He rubs his back, resting his cheek against his hair, and closes his eyes.

How long had it been? Twelve thousand years, give or take a few hundred... an eternity for them to have been apart. A cruel and unjust punishment, in his opinion. He doesn't know what exactly Emet-Selch has been through in all of those years, but he can't imagine it was anything short of agonising if his demeanour is anything to go by.