A letter of intent, a gift demonstrating an ability to provide for Joshua's needs-- not to mention an entire barrel of vintage wine simply for the trouble of it all. And mayhap he should offer those things someday, when his heart no longer quails at the mention of love.

How alike the three of them are, to cleave through obfuscation in such a way.

Dion sighs and briefly tightens his arm around Joshua in turn. He has fallen so far in so short a time, and clawed for every ilm of ground since. He thinks of the burned forest Joshua spoke of once, and imagines there are tiny buds of green poking up through layers of ash.

He turns to brush his lips against Joshua's hair. "There is hope yet."

Fragile though it is.