He couldn't back out; somehow, in all the fuss and the noise, in the aftermath and his retreat and Lee finding him again once things were more settled, she'd never explained that this was a no choice sort of thing. Somehow, Jude had still been entertaining the idea that if it didn't work out -- if it didn't feel right -- if he didn't measure up -- if anything, then he could back out of it and go back to his normal life.
But no. Not terribly likely.
All at once his knees went weak, and he grabbed a chair to sink down into, blowing out a breath. It made Lee look up from her dinner, ears flicking forward, and her expression going just a hair softer. Understanding, to a degree. She'd seen enough senshi in even her short, recent days to understand the shock associated, and so she generously put her chicken salad on pause to hop back down and rub up against his legs, the only way she really knew how to be reassuring.
"...I guess that would be best." It was almost a whisper, though, certainly reluctant, saucer-eyes on Breu. And it wouldn't be tonight. Tomorrow, perhaps, but tonight he wanted to finish his coffee and sleep somewhere he could maybe, just maybe, feel safe.
