Ambers wasn't gone for too long this time, but Simon usually spent these moments alone attempting reflect on the way he interacted with the younger man. He wasn't a particularly cruel person by anyone's standards, and most knew that his sometimes cold behaviour could be attributed to the countless losses and pains he'd experienced in his life, but when it came to Ambers he found he was either incredibly loving or instead short-tempered and withdrawn. He enjoyed their closeness, but at the same time he feared it.

Growing too attached to the boy would be his death sentence, as it had been for Sashi and Tanya.

The tent's entrance was pulled back some and he turned to see Ambers clutching a bottle of wine. Simon might've forced a smile, were it not for the overwhelming guilt he felt in that moment.

He watched wordlessly as the soldier poured wine into glasses, then held one of them out for him to take. He looked at it for a few moments, though it felt like an eternity, while the countless voices in his head bickered over whether he should take it. Slowly he lifted a hand but instead of reaching for the glass, his hand went to Ambers' wrist, guiding him to set the glass down on the table once more.

Stupid as it was to do so, Simon stepped forward until he was chest-to-chest with Ambers, placing a single kiss upon his shoulder and another in the crook of his neck. He seemed to settle into the taller man, hoping for an embrace that would once again distract him, but this time it was different. There was nothing sexual about the interaction.

"I'm sorry," he spoke through a sigh. He wanted to say more, to explain what the hell was going on in his head, but nothing seemed to come out. He could only apologise for his failures and weaknesses, as he had a hundred times before.

Be it for the compelling story that Mycah told or the sound of his voice after such a long time apart, Eida's anger and resentment were slowly draining into nothing. Although she did not realise it at the time, she had lowered her weapon entirely, using her free hand to pull the sheet so that it covered as much of her body as it was able. Her gaze had softened considerably, but she still held the faintest trace of a frown, chewing thoughtfully on her lower lip as he talked.

At the very least she understood the importance of this interaction, and knew she couldn't stop it even if she wanted to, but that didn't stop her from taking as much control of it as she possibly could. His words were slowly working to ease some of her concerns, but it would take a lot more than that to chip away at the wall she'd built around herself and her daughter.

"This is no trick, Eida, that is not my way. I am unable to leave her without giving her permission to take full dragon form," he finished, so softly she could've sworn her heart fluttered a little, but she shut that thought down as soon as it appeared. "You have my word, I will leave the moment it is done."

She remained silent for a long time, carefully regarding the father of her child, then exhaled slowly. "Turn around," she ordered, knowing he would comply, and waited for him to do so before she bent to retrieve her clothes. Only when she was adequately dressed did she allow him to turn back around, by which point she was already knelt beside Hotaru, lifting her up with the gentle hand of a mother.

"You may approach her," she told him with a nod, her voice holding none of the strength it had just moments before. It was clear to see that, despite his reassurances, Eida was still quite unsure of herself and the situation. She cradled Hotaru lovingly, allowing just enough room for Mycah to get close but not enough that he'd think to try to pick her up himself, and she didn't take her eyes off him for a second.