"...Are you okay? How long has this been happening?"
Gently, he reaches up to touch Devin's cheek and reassures him, "I am fine." But it does not sit well with the Fool, to know that he is responsible for the wounded look in Devin's eyes now; that is reason enough not to look away now. He presses his lips into a thin line and admits softly, "Since early August."
(So. Quite some time, then.)
There are no good reasons, no good excuses, for his reticence on this subject; whatever the tumultuous events of the past three months that might have preoccupied them, the Fool has had the better part of a month to share this secret with Devin, and he hasn't. Keeping secrets was one of many old habits, old survival instincts that have made up the only armour that protected him in the Six Duchies; he had not lain them aside even for Fitz, who had known him better than anyone else in his old life. But he and Fitz had had decades to build a bond of trust that could bridge each other's need for secrecy. This--this new, wonderful bond he's nurtured with Devin, demands some concessions if it is indeed going to thrive.
He will have to do better.
"I should have told you," he confesses quietly, a pained wince at the corners of his eyes. "I am sorry, Devin." He strokes his thumb gently across Devin's cheek, before letting his hand fall back to his lap.
no subject
Gently, he reaches up to touch Devin's cheek and reassures him, "I am fine." But it does not sit well with the Fool, to know that he is responsible for the wounded look in Devin's eyes now; that is reason enough not to look away now. He presses his lips into a thin line and admits softly, "Since early August."
(So. Quite some time, then.)
There are no good reasons, no good excuses, for his reticence on this subject; whatever the tumultuous events of the past three months that might have preoccupied them, the Fool has had the better part of a month to share this secret with Devin, and he hasn't. Keeping secrets was one of many old habits, old survival instincts that have made up the only armour that protected him in the Six Duchies; he had not lain them aside even for Fitz, who had known him better than anyone else in his old life. But he and Fitz had had decades to build a bond of trust that could bridge each other's need for secrecy. This--this new, wonderful bond he's nurtured with Devin, demands some concessions if it is indeed going to thrive.
He will have to do better.
"I should have told you," he confesses quietly, a pained wince at the corners of his eyes. "I am sorry, Devin." He strokes his thumb gently across Devin's cheek, before letting his hand fall back to his lap.