Even Felix can't help a tiny smile at the face Jim pulls. After he's stoppered the bottle Felix squeezes his husband's shoulder affectionately. "Look, I can't make it taste good or you'd have no reason to be avoid needing it."
But they've done it. The first danger is past, the remnant of his mistake laid out lifeless on the ground. Felix breathes in deep and exhales some of his tension. Feels the warmth of satisfaction he doesn't feel he should admit to. It's dead. Dead and over just like I wanted I want to see this through we're getting closer every step-
"Wise," Stratos is commenting on the mints. "We each could make use of a few, I suspect. Time will have stripped some of the smell, yet..." It won't be pleasant by any stretch. And a few scented sweets are a gentler intervention than the tribune's own emergency plan.
"-Right. The upper levels should be safe enough, but... I'll have my familiar scout ahead when we go in." Felix takes a deep breath, makes himself look up at Jim, at Stratos. "I... should take the lead. I know where to look. What to expect."
Stratos studies him carefully before he nods. Perhaps too this is another manifestation of Felix's latent desire to atone, but at least this is a more healthy form of it. Wanting to take the lead in confronting the evidence of his actions without putting himself in excessive danger, or denying them the chance to help. "I'll agree to that, if Jim consents."
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But they've done it. The first danger is past, the remnant of his mistake laid out lifeless on the ground. Felix breathes in deep and exhales some of his tension. Feels the warmth of satisfaction he doesn't feel he should admit to. It's dead. Dead and over just like I wanted I want to see this through we're getting closer every step-
"Wise," Stratos is commenting on the mints. "We each could make use of a few, I suspect. Time will have stripped some of the smell, yet..." It won't be pleasant by any stretch. And a few scented sweets are a gentler intervention than the tribune's own emergency plan.
"-Right. The upper levels should be safe enough, but... I'll have my familiar scout ahead when we go in." Felix takes a deep breath, makes himself look up at Jim, at Stratos. "I... should take the lead. I know where to look. What to expect."
Stratos studies him carefully before he nods. Perhaps too this is another manifestation of Felix's latent desire to atone, but at least this is a more healthy form of it. Wanting to take the lead in confronting the evidence of his actions without putting himself in excessive danger, or denying them the chance to help. "I'll agree to that, if Jim consents."