[ it is bad timing. if she hadn't just thrown up a bunch of flowers to sober up some, it wouldn't be happening at all. but despite the wrongness, there is a sort of easy relief that works itself loose from his nerves when the pieces slide into place and things sort of—make sense, for once. they really did end up torturing themselves.

so he nods, dipping in enough that her hands can find a place on his shoulders, and there is no pause when he kisses her, hand still resting against her cheek. it's gentle, but deliberately so, and not for any lack of conviction. and it's... nice? and it's warm, and simpler than he expects. there's been a lot of kissing between all the games and curses and everything else, even between the two of them, but it hits very differently when it's on your own terms.

just a couple sweet seconds and he draws back. ]

...Whatever's happened, don't be afraid. [ they're on the same page, even if neither of them really knows what that means exactly and there's no time to figure it out. he's still her friend, as much as anything else. it'd be nice if she felt she could be brave again, as she often fiercely is.

but then he smiles, because the gravitas of this is starting to make him feel sheepish. ] I will make the same amount of mistakes tenfold and make you look much better, don't worry.