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"Perfect gentleman." Misha gave another little tug to get him closer to her, looped her arm in his, and went on her toes to brush an affectionate kiss over his cheek. "We'll go over costume options while we walk. I have a feeling a long walk will be good for both of us."

The, with another pull, she started him walking towards the door. "And," she added gently, "you can tell me what else has been going on."

"This weekend, of course. So we've got a lot to do."

Misha squeezed his arm against her side but did not look up at him, instead focusing ahead on leading them from the dorm and outside. "And you're stalling," she murmured.

"A bit but only because you forget that I've gotten to know you pretty well." Misha made sure her voice stayed low and gentle; she didn't want to risk him clamming up again. Besides it seemed to be something weighty and she was torn between even wanting to know and the deep-down need to help her friend, to make Brian smile.

"You can tell me it's none of my business, of course," she added reluctantly, "but I care about you, Brian. I want you to know that you don't always have to be Mr. Stoic McLeaderPants around me."

"Oh." It was a completely inadequate syllable but Misha had no other answer ready to such news. She bit down momentarily on her lower lip and watched the path ahead as they walked. Couldn't they have just let him ride out his two week's notice in peace? She could only imagine how Brian was feeling; she knew instinctively why he had not said anything already.

But he did not need her questions or her pity. He would get her worry because he was her friend and she cared but she resolved not to smother him. Brian had too much pride and strength to need that.

So, once a few moments had passed, Misha sighed. "Well... That sucks a lot. I guess it was going AWOL for a week there. Just another thing Circe has to answer for. Ooo, I would love to yank on her hair some." She shot a sideways grin, faint but sweet, at the man beside her. "Yeah?"

She read the strain in his smile, noted it, and filed it away for later. Misha was not about to comment when she was not completely sure what he needed. Brian was too important to pass off with platitudes.

So, instead of offering a shoulder, Misha offered another sweet smile and drew him to a halt. Then she drew him around to face her and she reached up to frame his face with both hands. "Brian," she intoned solemnly, "I will always have something for you to do. Just give me a minute each day to think of things."

Then a wider smile broke her expression and she pulled him down towards her. Her lips brushed over the corner of his mouth, warm and comforting, and she laughed softly as she drew back again. "I hope you don't regret saying that, by the way."

"Always." Misha's eyes studied his face thoroughly and then smiled, gentle and sweet. "I'll be swooping in on you at all hours of the day and night. I'll become horribly demanding and you'll get sick of me... And then I'll cry." She turned her face into his hand and pressed a kiss to his palm. Then she brought both of their hands down, all tangled fingers.

"You'll do awesome in whatever you do, Brian. I know it."

His teasing kiss and squeeze and then words brought an even brighter smile to Misha's face. Contentment flooded her and a level of relief as well. Brian was relaxing somewhat. He was not radiating quite as much unease or discomfort. Watching him shy away from conversation with her felt unnatural. She hoped that, this time finally, she made it clear that he was always welcome to lean on her shoulder and use her ear.

His words certainly indicated that, she thought, the warmth flaring in her chest again.

"And you're one of mine. No matter what else I get out of this crazy ride," Misha said with a laugh, "I found you and that's worth any number of bumps and bruises and times I turn into a cat."