He had stood up and started to walk towards the door, but now he came back at Stormy's quiet plea and knelt down, wrapping his arms around her tightly in a near crushing hug. Ian pulled back after a moment, and his hand brushed over her cheek, still dry, before patting it softly.

"Come find me later," he told her, and bent to kiss the top of her head. Shifting sideways, he also pressed a kiss to the top of Otto's, not out of affection, but out of reassurance and comfort and a host of things he couldn't explain, that he couldn't say.

"Take care," said Ian as he straightened, and then he was out the door.

Bittiface

Ol-j-man