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"You make it sound so simple." A soft sigh. "I worry for their reaction. That's all. I'm very different from what they know."

I have not seen... Alright, alright. Calm down. I'll put it out.

I do not see how that is your b...

(When he finishes pouring, he looks up.)

... Oh. Hello.

Staring out at the fog.

It's rather thick today.

"Careful, I could get used to this."

He said, playfully. His own arm curling around her waist to hold her.

He tilted his head up, basking in her attention. He looked self-satisfied now.

His eyes were closed and there was a lazy smile on his face.

A soft sigh left him, a lazy smile on his face. One hand still resting on her hip.

Her hand in his hair made it hard to focus. But he's certainly not complaining.

The lingering tension in his shoulders eased as he felt a hand in his hair. An old instinct that he'd thought long dead. It was nice.

His hand rested on her waist.

With a soft laugh, he tugged her into his lap.

"I take it *you* missed *me?*" He asked between kisses.

He wrapped an arm around her waist, backing away from the wall so he could sit on the couch.

Much more comfortable.

Tilting his head, he captured her lips in a proper kiss.

He still had her pinned against the wall... he should probably move back soon.

That got a little smile. His eyes slowly opened, half-lidded.

"I cannot tell if that's a compliment or an insult." He said, playfully.

A huff of air escaped him that might be a chuckle. Or it might be another sigh? Hard to tell.

"I don't think many would agree with you."

"No."

His eyes fell shut with a soft sigh. While he still had her pinned, he wasn't quite looming over her anymore. Not when he looks like an affectionate cat.

He leaned into the touch. It might not be obvious on a first meeting, but he's a sucker for physical affection.

"You're rather confident today, aren't you?"

"Oh? Is that what I look like?"

He was playing coy. Somehow, he could look completely innocent, even with glowing golden eyes.

He looked down at her, fighting a smile at her words.

"Perhaps. What was your first clue?"

Mmhm.

(Walking over to a chair, he sat down and crossed his legs, sitting primly. Then, he gestured towards the chair opposite him.)

Please. Have a seat.

There are lots of reasons people would want to spy on me. We would be here all day if I were to list them.

That said: Why are you here if you don't know who I am?

(Sighs, placing his iPad down so he could save his poor plants. Picking them and only them back up.)

Be kind to the living things, please.

(He doesn't answer the question verbally. Instead, he makes eye contact and gives a brief nod.)

An old instinct bubbled up to argue that point. That was also nostalgic.

But before he could answer, she asked her question. And it took him off guard, head tilting to the side like a curious animal.

"I... would not know how." He mumbled, frowning.

"Sounds like him."

There was a moment, just the briefest moment, when his affection was obvious on his face in the form of a little nostalgic smile.

"Being stuck with the people you care about doesn't sound like a horrible fate, even if the people you care about are... *complicated.*"

"*Five weeks?* If I were you, I would have set fire to all of her belongings."

Tapping away at his iPad.

━ of silence passed.

"How long was she gone?"

As she spoke, he listened. He moved until his back was propped against the wall, tipping his head back to stare at the ceiling.

"I never forget that. If it seems that way, I apologize." He replied once it seemed like she was done speaking.

A lengthy moment ━

"No, but I am sure she still would." As he said that, he grabbed a chip and popped it into his mouth.