Safe For Now

[Raffe]

Sterling began to panic, and the fear in her voice coiled tight in Raffe’s chest. Nox offered explanation but not much comfort, and Juls seemed overwhelmed. Raffe ruffled a hand over his hair and tried to pull the situation together. He really wished Nox would stop trying to push himself back up; frustration was clearly doing little for his patience, but like he said himself: priorities.

“You won’t die,” he said simply to Sterling. “Because we aren’t going to let you. Not any of us, okay? Kallisti is family. You’re part of that now.” He shifted some of the bar stools as he spoke, making room and eyeing Juls with his best please humour me eyes. Then he plopped himself down next to Nox, briefly squeezing the other man’s knee. His other hand pat the space on the floor beside him. “I guess we’re doing this down here. Come on.” He offered a grin. Pain stabbed his throat, and the hoarse whisper of his voice was scraping thin. Hopefully Juls would follow suit, even if he imagined her rolling her eyes before she did so. “I’ve seen what the girls can do,” he continued to Sterling. “It’s pretty cool. Try and clear your mind a little, that always helps me when I’m learning something new. I’ll even do it with you.”