"Tiring," he replied smoothly, his hand warm in hers. "Gathered some more samples, but the animals, the deer especially... they're worried about something. They wouldn't tell me what."
"Me? Yes. Well, most woodland elves are. A little disconcerting to be eating animals that you can talk to."
He nodded slowly, leading her towards his apartment. "I know. Again, I don't bear any ill will towards you about it. It's just..." He shrugged. "Not something I can stomach."
He opened his door and pinched the bridge of his nose with his free hand before slumping onto the couch. He looked up at her for a moment, his eyes nervous before he opened one arm to her.
He looked nervously unsure, as if he had prepared for a different reaction. "Do you... want to come here?"
His body was tense and he hesitated, clearly unsure, although his arm was over her shoulder. "...sorry. You don't have to do this if you don't want to."
She would be able to feel how nervous he was, every muscle in his body tense and alert. "...no. I don't."
He hesitated before running his fingertips through her silvery hair, pulling a blanket off the arm of the couch and putting it over them.
He hesitated, looking down at her with an expression that could only be described as tenderness. “I’m glad you’re here.”
