He was more than glad to see Amalia again, and though he noted her quiet distraction and the circles under her eyes he did not press her. Long Night had left scars on all of them, and most of them weren't visible on the outside. He had been the lucky one, in more ways than one. The wounds he had taken when he had hurt them both had largely been salved by their forgiveness, and the no-longer-tenuous bond that had come from that night in the Infirmary at Rory's side. Amalia had her bakery, and her childhood friends, and he had hoped she had been finding similar solace with them, but the longer the walked the more he worried about her. They would need to find some time together soon, and not just to discuss what they were going to do about Ludo's mission... But for now, at least, he could spin stories to make her smile and hopefully help her forget some of her demons for a little while.
The sun could take a few lessons from him, was his first thought as Rory came towards them. He looked good - more than good, in fact, in leather pants and the light in his hair and his smile bright enough to turn spring into summer. He didn't entirely trust the change from his last visit, but he was more than happy to encourage and enjoy it for the moment. The hug came as a surprise, but a very pleasant one. He had been hugged before, and recently, and by friends--
But when Rory's arms came around him something tight and tense in his chest eased, and he felt himself relaxing into the brief embrace and returning it, pressing his cheek to the scar that snaked like a badge of honor over his friend's skin. "Rory," he murmured happily, as Isuma reep!ed excitedly and tried to hop onto the hunter's shoulder, rubbing her soft little face against his uninjured cheek as well.
He parted reluctantly, but the hand that slipped into his kept the smile in his eyes as he stepped far enough away to let Rory and Amalia make their greetings. It felt good to be reunited with them, brought together by joy instead of fear. Isuma was so happy as she caught his own surge of emotion that she was squeaking as she tried to nuzzle Rory and Amalia at the same time, and Jigano had to stifle a laugh at her precarious balancing act on the blond's shoulder. He pulled a leather tie from a pocket in his wide sleeve and began to quickly and neatly braid his hair back with deft fingers and the ease of long practice to give him something to do other than stand around awkwardly.
"We're here to help you today," he grinned, winking at his friend - at both of them, brave hearts all. "So don't hesitate to put us to work!"
The sun could take a few lessons from him, was his first thought as Rory came towards them. He looked good - more than good, in fact, in leather pants and the light in his hair and his smile bright enough to turn spring into summer. He didn't entirely trust the change from his last visit, but he was more than happy to encourage and enjoy it for the moment. The hug came as a surprise, but a very pleasant one. He had been hugged before, and recently, and by friends--
But when Rory's arms came around him something tight and tense in his chest eased, and he felt himself relaxing into the brief embrace and returning it, pressing his cheek to the scar that snaked like a badge of honor over his friend's skin. "Rory," he murmured happily, as Isuma reep!ed excitedly and tried to hop onto the hunter's shoulder, rubbing her soft little face against his uninjured cheek as well.
He parted reluctantly, but the hand that slipped into his kept the smile in his eyes as he stepped far enough away to let Rory and Amalia make their greetings. It felt good to be reunited with them, brought together by joy instead of fear. Isuma was so happy as she caught his own surge of emotion that she was squeaking as she tried to nuzzle Rory and Amalia at the same time, and Jigano had to stifle a laugh at her precarious balancing act on the blond's shoulder. He pulled a leather tie from a pocket in his wide sleeve and began to quickly and neatly braid his hair back with deft fingers and the ease of long practice to give him something to do other than stand around awkwardly.
"We're here to help you today," he grinned, winking at his friend - at both of them, brave hearts all. "So don't hesitate to put us to work!"
