This loss feels like a welcome home

Maybe… if things had been different. But it didn’t matter what emotions writhed under his skin. Tamsyn was his friend, he needed her as a friend. The loss of Zee was too painful, too fresh, for anything else to be the truth.

He held her paw, and waited for her to sort her emotions out. Holding her gently, but firmly. Letting her go would be too difficult, too impossible. He needed her, she was his. He wouldn’t give that up easily. He had to find a balance that didn't tar Zee’s memory, but still kept Tam in his life. The desire to take her and Art, and flee to the Armada with them was still there. Pushed aside, but not forgotten.

Then she was leaning against him, head to his shoulder, her voice soft and broken in a way that he could not fix. Her heartbreak was obvious, and painful, and he growled softly, gripping her tighter. “Mine.” He snarled. “Mine.” He couldn’t give her the love she needed, but he still felt for her fiercely and the need for her had only grown as she had pulled from the edge time and time again. No doubt his words wouldn’t help, but he couldn’t keep them at bay. He was hurt, and woozy, and the lingering taste of his nightmare still sat on his tongue. He would hold Tamsyn to him, whatever it took.

"Speech"