my bones are caving in

It's in the stars
it's been written in the scars on our hearts

After having told Kia what he needed to tell her about everything between himself and Korbin, he had then gone to Morgan. Fully prepared to hand it all back, to only ever call himself 'Chief of Agriculture for a just over a week in Halo'. To give in to Korbin, to the boy's harsh words and accusations, to be the worthless pile of shit that the boy was so clearly convinced he was.

But after his conversations, first with Kia, and then Morgan, he wandered back towards his room with a slightly less morose step - with his shoulders not so hunched, his resolve to follow through with his original plans restored. He was maybe a bit more reserved than before - fewer easy smiles jumping to his lips, his eyes not seeking contact with those he passes in the halls, his thoughts shifting between guilt and a strange sense of regret (though over which he could not define), but also something more optimistic.

He was heading 'home' to Kia, after all. He always looked forward to that.

So when he saw the softly glowing antlers of Auni in the hallway ahead, he let the smile that wanted to break out over his face indeed break out across his lips, as he squatted down to greet the luxere, hand automatically going to a pocket to fetch a treat for him. He had made a point to cook up Auni-diet-friendly treats, so that his giving them constantly wouldn't result in the little deerling from becoming overweight, or otherwise ill. Auni seemed to like them all the same, at least.

A soft bleat after the treats were consumed and Auni was leading him home - Chuy was glad to follow him.

He entered the room and immediately had his eyes looking for her, finding her upon their bed, her hands running through the dark locks that run along her back. He is a different man to the one who left earlier, his anxiety still present but far more settled, his mind refreshed, if still physically tired from general lack of sleep. "Hey," he greeted her warmly, shutting the door and moving in a few long strides across the room to her.

He sat down on the bed beside her, close, moving an arm around her waist to pull her into a one-handed embrace, pressing a kiss to her temple (or lips, if they happen to be in the way). It was a chance glance that had his gaze land on the back of her hand, spying the redness and slightly swelling there. He moved his own hand to reach for it, to gently hold it, a question behind his gaze as he lifted it to her own icy blue pools. "I feel like something more interesting happened to you since we last departed ways."

That we're not broken just bent
and we can learn to love again

CHULANE