the first time he leaves the teahouse, the sun feels warm on his skin. almost as warm as the smile ayaka gives him, the hug she bestows on him with a grateful laugh. if they both cry a little, they don’t say a word about it. she takes him and sayu for a meal, and thoma finds himself just looking at people as they walk by. he hadn’t even been a fugitive for long, but it still felt like a little too long to be cooped up in a place you were only meant to come and go from. she tells him all that’s happened since he went in hiding, how the decree is abolished and visions were being returned to their owners. thoma can feel his own at his hip, a warm comfort he can vividly remember almost losing...
the thought is stored away, for now. ayaka assures him her brother will be home, and after they finish their meal, they head back to the estate. the lady of the house is ushered away not long after, another retainer requiring her attention. they hug again, and thoma smiles after her.
the urge to clean the estate as soon as he’s back is a hard one to ignore, but thankfully thoma’s mind is a little muddled all things considered. first, he wants to lay in his own bed. he wants to find ayato, too, tell the man what’s happened since he was gone and assure the young lord he’s alright. they haven't seen each other in weeks, after all.
his quarters - a wing of the estate with his own bedroom, living area, and kitchenette - are lightly decorated. a few balloons, some streamers, but the most notable was ayato himself, sitting in the dining area while he sips at a tea cup. there’s a kettle in front of him, and a few tea cakes set out.
“...my lord?” thoma isn’t expecting to see him here, though he’s not at all displeased, “is this...for me?” // @milkteamedley
