Although he'd never really considered himself touch-starved - not with a sled team and a companion he could hug whenever he wanted to - there was something immensely satisfying about being able to hug a friend. He would have stolen a hug from the Valkyrie at some point in the evening regardless of how much fun they were having, but the strange tension in Ru and the mystery of her appearance ensured that it happened sooner rather than later.
And that, once he had her in his arms, he made no move to let go, folding her into an embrace that wrapped around her with warmth and support and a deep, comfortable love.
"Missed you, too," he said, shifting a hand to rest lightly in her hair, fingers curving over the unaccustomed topknot there. He bent a little to rest his cheek on the top of her head, breathing in her own scent and ignoring the clamoring questions in his head for the moment. "I brought stuff for salads, an' a loaf o' sourdough, an' a listenin' ear, if any o'that sounds good tonight," he offered quietly.
And that, once he had her in his arms, he made no move to let go, folding her into an embrace that wrapped around her with warmth and support and a deep, comfortable love.
"Missed you, too," he said, shifting a hand to rest lightly in her hair, fingers curving over the unaccustomed topknot there. He bent a little to rest his cheek on the top of her head, breathing in her own scent and ignoring the clamoring questions in his head for the moment. "I brought stuff for salads, an' a loaf o' sourdough, an' a listenin' ear, if any o'that sounds good tonight," he offered quietly.
