06-05-2020, 11:52 AM
When Nox’s face tipped into the capture of a kiss, Raffe’s fears began to grow steadier. The shaking had been horrifying; the thought of how far away someone could be when they were stuck wrestling their demons alone. At least he was listening. At least it meant he was reachable. He offered a small smile in response to Nox’s own, thin as it was; wished he could think of something comforting to say. Nox didn’t need to live up to anything, he just needed to be himself. That really was how he felt about it, but it sounded like the empty platitude of a lovestruck fool, and the other man seemed so fragile right now he was hesitant to do something to break the spell.
Raffe didn’t argue against what he was the second time, perhaps thinking of how Sterling had done the same. It hadn’t made it any less true for her either. He couldn’t feel anything inside, though he didn’t search too hard either. “I was ill a little while back,” he admitted. “Worst flu I’ve ever had.” His fingers traced the scar at his throat, wondering. At the time he'd put it down to recovery, but he supposed it didn’t matter. If it was true it was true. What made his lips twitch into a frown was wondering whether Nox was disappointed in the new burden presented by it. Like that last little slice of normality evaporated the moment Raffe turned out to be something other than strictly ordinary. Another man to teach. Another person to protect.
He didn’t voice it, though. They had enough to be dealing with right now.
His expression finally broke a little like his usual self at the mention of food. “No, it can wait,” he said, a little relieved actually. He needed time to get his head around it, and he’d rather take care of Nox first. He stood and offered a hand. “I’m starving actually. Seemed to have worked up an appetite.” He grinned a little foolishly, feeling the blood rush of pleasant memory. “Plus, we need to get your arm looked at. Christian’s worried you split the wound open again.”
Raffe didn’t argue against what he was the second time, perhaps thinking of how Sterling had done the same. It hadn’t made it any less true for her either. He couldn’t feel anything inside, though he didn’t search too hard either. “I was ill a little while back,” he admitted. “Worst flu I’ve ever had.” His fingers traced the scar at his throat, wondering. At the time he'd put it down to recovery, but he supposed it didn’t matter. If it was true it was true. What made his lips twitch into a frown was wondering whether Nox was disappointed in the new burden presented by it. Like that last little slice of normality evaporated the moment Raffe turned out to be something other than strictly ordinary. Another man to teach. Another person to protect.
He didn’t voice it, though. They had enough to be dealing with right now.
His expression finally broke a little like his usual self at the mention of food. “No, it can wait,” he said, a little relieved actually. He needed time to get his head around it, and he’d rather take care of Nox first. He stood and offered a hand. “I’m starving actually. Seemed to have worked up an appetite.” He grinned a little foolishly, feeling the blood rush of pleasant memory. “Plus, we need to get your arm looked at. Christian’s worried you split the wound open again.”