[ His fingers laced through hers, careful. He does not have her -- but he thinks. Thinks of what she whispered so carefully, with too much compassion. More than he had or has. ( The fabric of the city is made of stuff such as she. ) ]

I would like that. [ his lips pull earnestly in a smile for a moment. It's a sad truth for them both then. It is not that he never wanted, it was just that he couldn't. Not once he released what his life would be like, serving his Empress. ] I have never been able to have friends before I came here. Not for a very long time.

[ he laughs, quietly. ] You are making very good at fixing this oversight by yourself. I would hate that to be taken off you.