"No!" Tal denied automatically, even if that was pretty much exactly what he'd just admitted to. But Hotaru continued her teasing over his protestation and the courier managed a shadow of his usual scowl at her 'advice.' Especially when she twisted it around at the end to absolve him from further 'practice' for the day and he was left with a grumble that had no good target.
But her hand was warm on his neck and her hair was soft on his forehead and he didn't pull away from either, in spite of his instinctive grumpiness.
"Yeah? Well... if you're sure... I guess it's okay then." Aside from his sisters and maybe Sah, most people didn't seem to think spending time with him was much of a 'reward.' There was a warmth in his chest at her words in the place where the pain had lodged deepest, beginning to heal some of the fractures that had threatened to tear him apart earlier.
A sigh puffed into the air, reluctant and morose. "I guess I should still deliver the cake..." He didn't sound excited about the idea as he cracked an eye to glance down at the box in the snow. It... definitely looked the worse for wear.
Oops.
But her hand was warm on his neck and her hair was soft on his forehead and he didn't pull away from either, in spite of his instinctive grumpiness.
"Yeah? Well... if you're sure... I guess it's okay then." Aside from his sisters and maybe Sah, most people didn't seem to think spending time with him was much of a 'reward.' There was a warmth in his chest at her words in the place where the pain had lodged deepest, beginning to heal some of the fractures that had threatened to tear him apart earlier.
A sigh puffed into the air, reluctant and morose. "I guess I should still deliver the cake..." He didn't sound excited about the idea as he cracked an eye to glance down at the box in the snow. It... definitely looked the worse for wear.
Oops.
