Northstar Vale passive-aggressive question avengers

Maxim tilted toward him and Caracal swooped in like a great bird of prey, his wingspan tucking around the man’s charcoal shoulders and pulling him in with feeling. He thumped Towhee’s partner on the back, trying to infuse both comfort and strength into their embrace.

When they pulled back in tandem, he saw Maxim’s face had crumpled. Caracal felt a ridiculous impulse to brush away his tears, though he stayed his hand. That would be weird, wouldn’t it? Maxim was a handsome guy—and Caracal could admit that to himself—but he belonged to his mother! And a lot of men would feel very awkward about that sort of intimacy. He would resist.

I’m glad Uncle Ph is here for you guys, Caracal said. I’m here now too, he added unnecessarily. Take me to her. If you thought what I gave you was a good hug, I’m gonna squeeze her like a thousand times harder, he said, trying to inject some levity into a very heavy exchange.

He had a feeling he might linger here longer than planned. Caracal would hang as long as Towhee needed him. If that took him past the schedule he’d given his soon-to-be girlfriend, well, he would just pray for Heda’s forgiveness and understanding.

Thank you for the kudos, “dad”!