"I'm fine," he says reflexively. "Well, actually, I'm pretty stressed after last month, but it's nothing I can't handle, alright? You don't worry about me. I've got lots of people to help me. But you..."

He plucks a napkin off of the table, wiping it gently, so gently across her face, frightened as he is of hurting her with these new talons that he hasn't quite gotten used to yet.

Wings--ones that he didn't have in those old memories--fold out slightly, a small attempt at comfort.

"Did you have a bad dream?"