Juugo flinched at the touch, and when immediate escape wasn't available, he curled in on himself as small, and as far away, as Nagato's hold allowed.

He hardly noticed that it wasn't so close to the surface anymore, only a little relief bleeding into the wordless panic gripping him. Juugo wanted away and the little birds were in a tizzy, upset on his behalf. One braver one even tried to dive at Nagato's head to peck at his hair.