Raffe didn’t argue, just ducked in and climbed down when instructed, trying not to spill the water from the pot. He murmured soft reassurances under his breath, not that the plant really felt like a person would. At the bottom he turned back to check for Nox, brows slightly lowered, expression surprisingly serious. Light bloomed from nowhere. In that soft glow the other man produced a wallet and began tapping away.
Raffe glanced at Sterling, catching his breath and letting his pulse ease. He didn’t pause to think about what he’d done, though he did rub his free hand across his scar, painfully aware of his own mortality. “You okay?” he asked her. It seemed unlikely she really knew what Nox was or what he did, and though she was both feisty and confident in the way of most young people, she was also still a kid. He kept half an eye on Nox as he spoke, noting the moment of relief, small though it was, and wondered exactly how much trouble they were in.
Raffe glanced at Sterling, catching his breath and letting his pulse ease. He didn’t pause to think about what he’d done, though he did rub his free hand across his scar, painfully aware of his own mortality. “You okay?” he asked her. It seemed unlikely she really knew what Nox was or what he did, and though she was both feisty and confident in the way of most young people, she was also still a kid. He kept half an eye on Nox as he spoke, noting the moment of relief, small though it was, and wondered exactly how much trouble they were in.