Fred stiffened instantly.
"Huh?" He turned back, shock written all over his face. "What's the problem?"
Damien stepped closer instead of answering right away. Gently—but with a firmness that left no room for escape—he reached out and turned Fred to face him. His hands settled on Fred's shoulders, warm and grounding, as though he was afraid Fred might disappear if he let go.
"You coming here…" Damien said quietly, his voice low and careful, "…means you're not angry with me anymore, right?"
Fred froze.
"I really thought I'd lost you," Damien continued, his eyes searching Fred's face with raw sincerity. "When you left like that, it hurt more than I expected."
Fred swallowed hard, his breath hitching despite himself.
"You're someone I already considered a friend," Damien went on, his grip tightening just a fraction. "Losing you—" He paused, as if choosing his words carefully. "Losing you hurt. I'm really glad you came back."
