"Love you, too," he murmured, stroking his fingers in the yellow flame as he watched Marco fall asleep. It was strange seeing this after so long. Especially after he wasn't sure if he'd see anything ever again. Anyone ever again. But for right now Marco was here, on his chest just like the old days, breathing slow and deep--

Thatch matched his breathing, watching him as time slipped by and he slipped into dreaming, eyes twitching behind close lids, tail raising and then lowering again. Thatch rested a hand on that long blue neck and closed his eyes himself in a long sigh.

In that darkness, tinged by the faint blue light, there were no worries or fears-- not even a prickling feeling of being watched skipping over his skin. There was just peaceful dark, the warm weight of a content nakama, and sleep.