Self-consciously, Ezra rubbed the back of his neck under Ibrahim's gaze. Behind those deep brown eyes, he could see the gears turning as Ibrahim seemed to debate something internally.
His eyes widened slightly at the statement. It almost sounded like Ibrahim was offering...but no. He was probably just speaking hypothetically. Still, Ezra couldn't ignore the subtle shift in between them.
Feeling a blush creep up his neck, Ezra ducked his head. Was he really seen as too sweet by Ibrahim? The possibility made his heart flutter.
Ezra nodded, still processing Ibrahim's almost affectionate words. He worried his lower lip between his teeth, a nervous habit. Glancing back up at Ibrahim, he saw a flicker of something in his friend's eyes at the action—longing? Curiosity? But it was gone before Ezra could decipher it.
With a shy smile and his head still ducked, a faint blush colored Ezra's cheeks. Ibrahim's words echoed in his mind - too sweet, wanting to protect you... Did his friend truly see him that way? The thought made his heart flutter.
Still, Ezra didn't want Ibrahim to see him as some helpless damsel. He was the son of Hecate, after all. He had power of his own.
"I, uh, appreciate you looking out for me," Ezra said, daring to meet Ibrahim's intent gaze once more. "But you should know - I'm tougher than I look." He gave a small, lopsided grin even as he flexed one arm in an attempt at bravado.
"I mean, I am my mother's son," Ezra added with a wink. Inside, his heart pounded at his boldness. It wasn't like him to draw attention to himself in that way. But Ibrahim's words had emboldened him, sparking a desire to impress his friend. To show that maybe, just maybe, he could be the protector too.
Wanting to change the subject before he could embarrass himself further, Ezra gestured vaguely at the stacks of books and papers surrounding them. "So, uh, what will you be up to after you finish going through all this?" he asked.