in this world it's hard to get it right.

If Peregrine could have seen them then, dancing this slow and painfully cautious dance, he likely would have had an aneurysm. Or he would have straight up shot them both. Fin watched her fellow beta as he puzzled his way through her cryptic words, praying that he would understand what she was failing so abysmally at saying before she passed out as I'm pretty sure she hadn't taken a breath since he'd told her he loved her.

When Elwood finally spoke, relief washed over her. Though he may have been still too nervous to allow himself fully to believe what it was she'd been trying to say, she had no doubt that he understood. He knew. And he wasn't changing his mind and taking it all back. A warmth fell over her like a soft, protective blanket as he leaned forward and pressed his nose ever so gently against hers. It was a touch that less than an hour ago, she'd been convinced she'd never feel again, and now that she had it, she'd never felt so overwhelming moved by it.

Finley nodded gently, keeping her nose pressed lightly against his even as she moved her muzzle. "I've been looking at you ever since," she admitted, her heart pounding. It was all at once terrifying, humbling and liberating saying it (even though.. she hadn't technically said it, had she?), and even though the tension was now timidly slipping away bit by tiny bit, she remained still, not wanting to move away from even this tiniest of his touches.