"I did have a good time." He looked down at his hand after Cepheus had retreated. "It's okay. You just applied pressure in another way I'm fine with. It's fine." And now he was the one reassuring Gamp. This felt odd, but not unpleasantly so.

"We're here," he aid softly. He didn't see Cepheus' face or hear his reaction as he headed for the doorstep, more glad to see his journey through the alley had ended. It wasn't a long walk from Rover's Fancy, but with the night closing in the walk felt like it had been over an hour since they left the pub.

He turned around, looking up to watch the light disappear, leaving the dim light from the windows above. Elixa must still be revising, or at least staying up to sneak a peek at his companion, if he knew how she was like. When Cepheus started talking, he looked back at the man.

In the dim light Cepheus' smile made him feel a little reluctant to split. "Thank you for, for walking me back. That was-- you didn't need to do it. But you did. Thank you." Arc willingly took his hand, offering a sincere attempt at a smile back.

”...you didn't need to do it. But you did. Thank you.”
“Was my pleasure.” Cepheus told Arcturus quietly, smile growing. There was a pause between them both, still gripping each other’s hand. Neither seemed in too much of a hurry to let go. “Well, erm, goodnight then.”

Cepheus kept hold of Arc’s hand and inclined forward carefully, leaving a soft kiss on the other man’s right cheek. His left hand fingers rested briefly on Arc’s right upper arm until Cepheus let go with both hands and stepped backwards, away from the front door. Ceph cleared his throat gently, chin lowered, taking another couple of small steps backwards before he turned to his right on the spot. In the dark of the alley, he set off across the cobbles alone, cheeks burning, ramming both hands into his dufflecoat pockets.

He was afraid to look back until he was a good ten feet away. Finally he snuck a look over his shoulder, curious if Arcturus was still there or had hurried inside. The healer was still stood on the doorstep, head lowered, as if dazed, or perhaps he was watching Ceph go, it was too dark to tell. His stomach was doing somersaults - not anticipating how the evening would pan out, and fearing the worst, he turned back and hurried a little more, crossing the alley, heading home.

Normally he would have withdrawn when Cepheus drew in, but he didn't. All he knew was that his jaw dropped at the contact. Then his companion was gone, quickly down the street, before he could even gather his voice.

Arcturus raised a hand slowly to his cheek but did not touch, his fingers hovering over the area Cepheus' lips - breath - had touched. He laid no weight on his face, it was more protecting the little fuzzy orb of warmth that was fast escaping in the chilly night. Did he? Did he really just--?

The door clicked open, and above the rolling meow an eager voice asked, "So?"