Here in the safety of her home it was a little easier to remember that, whatever had happened, they had time. However much she needed, there was no emergency or quest or dangerous terrain to hasten decisions or prioritize survival over self-care. He could hold her as long as she would let him and the worst that would happen would be the bread getting cold... and they could warm that up again whenever hunger overcame heartache.
"There's nothin' stoppin' us," he pointed out lightly, even as his soft tone belied his worry for the woman in his arms. Her willingness to open up to him didn't go unnoticed, and he turned his head to press an affectionate kiss to her head. "We c'n do both," he agreed to her request, straightening enough to smile down at her. "I'll grab th'bread if you lead the way?"
And he would, keeping one hand wrapped firmly in hers and snagging the loaf as they went past until they could settle onto the couch and he could curl around her again, leaning against the back and one arm and waiting for Ru to pick her chosen position. He left the bread in its bag in easy reach, tearing off a chunk of bread and tearing it in half again before offering her a piece to nibble.
Some might find it less than flattering, but Tal treated Hotaru the way he treated one of his sled team that had been injured or unwell; with quiet patience and gentle touches to reassure and comfort until the cause could be determined. And a little easy food to settle her stomach; being hungry never made any situation better.
"There's nothin' stoppin' us," he pointed out lightly, even as his soft tone belied his worry for the woman in his arms. Her willingness to open up to him didn't go unnoticed, and he turned his head to press an affectionate kiss to her head. "We c'n do both," he agreed to her request, straightening enough to smile down at her. "I'll grab th'bread if you lead the way?"
And he would, keeping one hand wrapped firmly in hers and snagging the loaf as they went past until they could settle onto the couch and he could curl around her again, leaning against the back and one arm and waiting for Ru to pick her chosen position. He left the bread in its bag in easy reach, tearing off a chunk of bread and tearing it in half again before offering her a piece to nibble.
Some might find it less than flattering, but Tal treated Hotaru the way he treated one of his sled team that had been injured or unwell; with quiet patience and gentle touches to reassure and comfort until the cause could be determined. And a little easy food to settle her stomach; being hungry never made any situation better.
