I'm gonna burn for you

He knows that it’s important to her, and he knows that it’s important he’s putting on a good show for Hemlock. Hell, it’s good that he’s out of the house, off the mountain, when things are in such a state. It’s left him more reliant on Ember than he’d care to admit, especially in the midst of his recovery. Especially in the midst of the turmoil that had taken over his life, as of late. A waypoint in the storm, but he’d say it’s more than a trauma bond. Well, he’d say that if he wasn’t so tripped up over his own words, still.

Trailing her into the castle, handling the chaos of getting the pups settled, doing what he needed to as world’s okayest older brother– it’s exhausting, but he’s doing his best. A tired smile to Ember as he sends them off with Henbane, following silently to the stairs with a little quirk of his brow. Tail wagging loosely at his haunches, grateful for the privacy that lay ahead. Grateful for more than that, but hell, can’t get too ahead of himself.

Taking the stairs two at a time, long legs eating the ground beneath him. “Leave it to you, making me feel important.” Rakish grin, though the words are genuine Gently reaching to tug at one of the braids in her tail, playful. More playful, more genuine than he dared to be in front of anyone else. She’s worth it, and he has half an idea of what lay ahead. Still hazy from the night’s festivities, and pleased with the way things had played out. Pleased with himself, with the evening, and what he could only hope lay ahead.

"Erik"