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“Oh, alright, that makes more sense. Nasty stuff though. I can get that started while you get the water to the right temperature for yourself.” Holding out a steadying hand, he made sure the other didn’t fall. Once they were in and sitting, he relaxed a bit and nodded as they listed things off. “I can get something from the closet for you but you know I don’t really do the same as you do for bed. As for food, I don’t think I could eat right now, to be honest.”

Turning to head back through their room and down to the kitchen he paused at the door. “I’m more than alright with that, and tomorrow you can come with me to work if you want. I want to make sure you’re still okay like you tagged along when I was healing up.”

Heading down the stairs quickly, he shuffled through the canisters of tea in the cabinet until he saw one labeled willow bark. Looking at the microwave, he rifled through the cups until he found one that was probably microwave-safe and went to work getting everything together as he stood in the kitchen in just his boxers. Thoughts floating back to the whole magic thing, he tried to think about how it would all work out if he chose to tag along. He hadn’t even the slightest clue on how things worked.

Sighing as he leaned against the island in the center of the kitchen, he watched the cup go around and around until the microwave dinged. Getting everything together, he made his way back up to the bathroom and set the cup carefully on the edge of the tub, it was thick enough that he didn’t need to worry about it tilting over and falling in or off the edge of the thing.

“It’s hot still so be careful.” That settled, he went to the closet and fished out one of the warmer sets of bed clothing for Alexandre and some towels. He’d started to get the hang of where everything was in there but it still took a minute.

Everything done, he set it all on the counter and got in after letting his boxers fall to the floor. Running around to get everything set up for them helped get his mind off some of the things that were bothering him but he still watched them carefully as he held a wet washcloth to where they’d been hit. “I got everything ready so don’t worry. I’ll stay close, I won’t leave.”

Helping with their hair, he was careful not to hurt them between shampooing and conditioning. The soap came away red then pink as he got all of the blood out, it didn't help with his stomach but he had to help since their arm was hurting. “I told you I wouldn’t run, I wasn’t lying, and even if this isn’t something that I’m having the easiest time with I’ll do what I can. I’m just glad you’re okay, or at least as okay as you can be.” Leaning forward he pressed his forehead to theirs after rinsing the last bit of soap from them.

“I can do more than sit on the sidelines, I don’t want to sit by and something happen that I could have had a chance at preventing.” Pushing the issue a bit more, his voice was still a bit shaky from it all, from seeing them banged up and hurt. But the fact they’d come to him first felt reassuring in a way, even if he wasn't as great of help as Lorcan would be for medical things. He’d have to get some advice from them for the future, just in case so he could better be prepared.

“At least you’re clean and home now, drink some of the tea alright?” Bringing the cup from the edge of the bath, he held it up for them.

Stiffening a bit, he nodded as they spoke. It was a lot and those facts didn’t sit quite well with him but the fact still remained that it was such a part of their life that he was just standing by and hoping that nothing would happen.

Finally focusing on himself, he scrubbed their blood from his chest while he thought. There were a lot of things to weigh and lines that he wasn’t sure he could step back behind if he crossed. “Just… a little at a time, it’s not something small to be ignored about you, and with the risk now showing up here… I can’t ignore it, nor can I ask you to stop. I’m just thinking about the immediate bits of this, of you. There’s a lot I don’t know still…”

Sighing and pressing his face into his hands for a moment. “Things are better, it’s been a month and you’ve put up with my capricious whims and ways. I can be careful though, step back from the magical things if I need to but that doesn’t mean I’ll step back from you. I just feel useless sitting by now that I’ve seen something happen to you.”

“Not tonight, but if you’re feeling up to it tomorrow after I work.” Reaching forward, he held one of their hands and squeezed it slightly. At least they weren’t flat out pushing him away from things, from something that was a very large part of their life. It was like Pandora’s box and he knew that it wouldn’t be easy to manage but he could go at his pace without worrying about the other pushing him.

“You’re a brat and an angel. Maybe a bit too settled in things sometimes compared to me but to be fair if it wasn’t for the shop and certain things happening I would have just stayed the 90 days and hop skip jumped my way across the world. I like this though, being with you and slowing down on some things. I just want to make sure it’ll continue to be okay between us since things have been going well even if the circumstances weren’t the best.”

Reaching over, he started to drain the water before standing up. “You need rest and I do too, it was a long day at work before this all happened. Tomorrow after work I’ll come back here again with you, probably until you’re alright again just in case. I can check the mail at my place while you sit behind the counter if I need to since it’s close to the shop just like before.”

“Someone from back home, the one who ships things through customs for me, was going to stay here once I got set up. Something that still might happen later on but I was also still figuring out things.” Just throwing money at a problem with what he knew while trying to run. Now it had turned into a whole lot more which he was fine with, it kept him busy which kept him in one place.

“The fact everything I sell is my own, made it just that much easier to do paperwork. But things changed a bit too when I got here.” Helping steady the other, he dried them off and offered over the bedclothes before grabbing his fresh pair of boxers.

“We can still globetrot maybe a bit, here and there if you want. I’ll whisk you away to Paris for a weekend then maybe England the next? It could be fun and I think you deserve a little bit of a break.” Pressing his lips to their forehead, he just stayed there for a moment as he thought. Even now just that urge to run but to pull them along with him this time because he wasn’t about to leave them behind.

“It’s a bit more complicated than that and I’d still go in to move things around but it boils down to I would just go in for appointments and showings periodically and not have to go in every weekday. I’ve met a few locals to source other things from and going to auctions or estate sales here and there. In the end, everything should be able to run for the most part with a lot fewer nights of me sleeping in the shop after going over accounting and things. But longer-term goals would be me being able to sponsor my friend to come here and work so I can handle more of the sourcing and relation side of running things, not that I don’t enjoy the many people who come through day to day even if they don’t buy things.”

There was a whole plan for things, to get easier and allow for more freedom over time as he passed through the various hoops he’d need to so he could stay here permanently now that he had a lot more reason to. “I’ll make sure you have fun there, I’ll show you all the sights away from the tourists where it’s nice and peaceful. But you need to brush up a bit more on your French~” Smiling as they stepped in and pressed against him, he rubbed their back before pulling them along to the other room.

“Yes warm, far too warm for me to sleep in clothing like that.” A soft chuckle came out as he flopped back onto the bed. Offering a hand up to help steady them if they needed it, he was very ready to rest. “We can talk and plan more at the shop, just like we usually do.” Something peaceful but interesting enough to fill the space between customers.