book 7: normalcy

His own heart hitches for a second as she turns to face him. Looking into those eyes as if it were the first night they had met. Except she isn't terrified or sopping wet to the bone. He can't help but be tender around her, careful, cautious. She is... fragile. Her words though almost cause him to sigh in relief, but he holds it back, instead giving her a gentle smile before stepping forward to the side of her.

When he's close enough, he reaches down to touch his nose to the top of her head between her ears. "I have a feeling we'll find more than what you're looking for," Gil jokes, leaving it up to her imagination on what he means. Eyes crinkling slightly at the corners before he starts their journey deeper into the island. "Have you explored this one much?" He asks, chin tilting down for a moment to make sure she's keeping up with him.

Speech