The light tugging catches the redhead off-guard, letting Inigo gently pull him into the movement. He returns the hug readily, greedily when he catches on, something warm tickling into his lungs, but isn't quite laughter. It raises the corners of his mouth without even a thought, and tension seeps from his limbs when Inigo accepts his words.
'We'll be fine.' He likes this. Eyes drifting closed as he takes in the comfort offered; Inigo is truly too kind and patient for his own good. It makes Esteban want to protect this, wants to make sure nothing would harm his friend that might leave scars across how good a person he is. He's not strong enough for it, he knows. But he wants to protect him nonetheless, protect what Inigo finds precious, finds important. Protect any sort of happiness that his friend might gather close, no matter how small.
He lets the silence linger, just a bit, still too greedy and selfish to let go, but he won't let his friend's words fall into nothingness. When they break apart, Esteban's grin is crooked, an mischievous, bright in the corner of his sky-lost eyes when he responds.
"I trust you too," he assures him, nudging his side lightly. "Else I wouldn't have told y' 'bout my hoard. It's what we dragons hold most precious, y'know?"
Levity sheds from him like ice dropping down his spine, finding it again, that little piece of his words that... says everything while saying nothing. He's still hiding it, shifting around the subject. But he is not going to be a coward. He wants to give his friend the truth. All of it. No more pretending. No more playing at being mortal.
"It's what Immortals hold most precious." It's a bit of weight. A bit of a weight he knows won't be understood, but that he has to expose nonetheless. He shouldn't have pretended. It was bad for him all around.
"I've chosen my friends," he adds, smile returning as he allows the comfort of his hoard to seep through as well. It is the most precious thing he has. "The people I've met, what they like, what they enjoy. Smiles on their faces." He grins again, nose scrunching in mischief, as he adds a chirpy "you included~ You've got a pretty smile~"
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'We'll be fine.' He likes this. Eyes drifting closed as he takes in the comfort offered; Inigo is truly too kind and patient for his own good. It makes Esteban want to protect this, wants to make sure nothing would harm his friend that might leave scars across how good a person he is. He's not strong enough for it, he knows. But he wants to protect him nonetheless, protect what Inigo finds precious, finds important. Protect any sort of happiness that his friend might gather close, no matter how small.
He lets the silence linger, just a bit, still too greedy and selfish to let go, but he won't let his friend's words fall into nothingness. When they break apart, Esteban's grin is crooked, an mischievous, bright in the corner of his sky-lost eyes when he responds.
"I trust you too," he assures him, nudging his side lightly. "Else I wouldn't have told y' 'bout my hoard. It's what we dragons hold most precious, y'know?"
Levity sheds from him like ice dropping down his spine, finding it again, that little piece of his words that... says everything while saying nothing. He's still hiding it, shifting around the subject. But he is not going to be a coward. He wants to give his friend the truth. All of it. No more pretending. No more playing at being mortal.
"It's what Immortals hold most precious." It's a bit of weight. A bit of a weight he knows won't be understood, but that he has to expose nonetheless. He shouldn't have pretended. It was bad for him all around.
"I've chosen my friends," he adds, smile returning as he allows the comfort of his hoard to seep through as well. It is the most precious thing he has. "The people I've met, what they like, what they enjoy. Smiles on their faces." He grins again, nose scrunching in mischief, as he adds a chirpy "you included~ You've got a pretty smile~"