James kept Eli close, rubbing his hand against the boy's arm to help him warm up. What Eli described made him frown. He felt like this probably wouldn't be the last time something like this happened given the nature of his work. Did that make it okay? Absolutely not. Perhaps it bothered him even more that someone not only frightened but laid hands on his boyfriend.

But now that Eli was smiling, James felt more at ease. Well, fixated? He looked like a different person with that makeup, even though it was running from the rain. James leaned forward to set his mug on the coffee table and then turned where he sat so he could better look at Eli. He reached up to cup his face, running this thumb over the curve of his cheek.

"I'll always help you if I can."