“What is the coolest thing you’ve ever took?”

He held up both index fingers for a quick second, as if telling her to wait for just a moment as he rummaged through the bag at his side. Finally, he withdrew a bangle bracelet made from polished jade and held it out to her. “Here. I found this and I know how much you like shiny things.”

          “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Ah, he would feign ignorance. It was true his advances were not subtle, seeing as subtlety was something Caleb lacked now more than ever. To know she had caught on about his attraction to the tiefling was embarrassing, and he could only assume the others had noticed. Thoughts of the barbarian came to mind, and he wondered if he would need her blessing to continue on this path. “I’ve had another before, and perhaps I have gotten over my heartache. They’re all lunatics, Nott, why would I be interested in someone so chaotic?” 

         “It was to keep you safe, mein Kind, please...” They promised each other, all those months ago, that they would never lie to the other. There would be no secrets, no keeping things. He was the one to suggest it, and Nott had promised the same as Caleb had. How could he go back on his word? “If you knew, if you knew all that time ago, would you be here with me today? Would you trust me? I had to lie to get out of there, I had to lie to keep you safe. You have to trust me now, trust my decision. Please, Nott, you know I didn’t want to.” 

          “Oh, oh dear...” His own hands wrap around her wrists, forcing her palms up for him to inspect. “There are cuts, ja, but I do not see any pieces... We can see if anyone has padding for a bandage, to make sure it stays clean and heals. You will live, don’t worry.”

“He doesn’t need me. He can’t. He may like me, which is perfectly fair, since I’ve taken a liking to him as well. He’s brilliant and oddly charming and I have no doubt that we’re definitely...something. But there’s no way he needs me.”