"Thoma, you're burning up." Gloved palms are pressed to the side of his face in studious observation, Thoma leaning down in earnest to allow her the proximity, magenta pouring into his own eyes. "Your face - it's hot to the touch," fact; nail struck by the hammer of her tone as heat crosses the boundary of the fabric dividing the contact from his cheeks and warms her fingers. An odd sensation, all things considered. Displaced by her uncomfortable position of standing on tip-toes, she instead pulls him further down to her height as she continues to observe his state.
"What's the matter with you?"
Did she realize how it's the very realm her grasp introduces him to that's the cause? Souls like them are both brave and vigilant, details if known are always etched into their ideas. In this moment, that fiery disposition finds itself brimming with life fashioned in ways never seen before. The fact she openly voices it with that stark and studious tone certainly provided no favors.
In truth? Thoma found himself entranced by beauty that runs well beyond the skin. Comfort finds itself intertwined with struggle, peace with the 'chaos' enriched by her presence. Somehow it leads to a peaceful void that feels compelled to thrive and expand in order to bring a state of tranquility for this moment. Feelings unspoken always had a way of leaving such a burgeoning precipice. "I.. Yeah, being attuned to the Flames of Teyvat.." The topic finds itself being a decent distraction from the billowing cloak of steam heating his mind.
Keqing wasn't asking about the details however. What she asked was about him in essence.
Thoma is so painfully conscious of that answer. Standing as a blockade of shadow, even now, was the constructed idea of how she'd react to it all. Would this face etched with genuine concern find itself changing? Growing modest or distant if he allowed the passions of his heart to forge a confession? It's such a contrasting intensity as unconsciously, he'd lean into that touch, welcoming his weight to her security as a soft sigh spills from him.
Arching down further by her request after a sight that flutters between adorable and endearing, it's this closing of distinct that ignites the pulse. Details such as the way her eyes found themselves rivaling the vibrant, prideful lances of Electro. On another hand, as she spoke, how soft her lips found themselves looking as her native tongue wove her thoughts together. That same intoning part of her often being in the eye of his imagination, of pictured scenarios where their lips met with passion.
Settled within the mind of the Fixer, countless scenarios of a more romantic inclination danced within his mind, his own heart trying to turn the heartfelt emotion into acidic traces instead. The warnings of change had to be promoted despite the tenderness of such a crossing.
Without truly realizing it, a need to connect, to close more of this distance by the truth led to his hand gently reaching forth. To secure a portion in her forearm in a careful grip as a means of support. Finally allowing those eyes to peer open, there's a certain earnest nature that burns vividly within jade.
"Keqing? There's something.. Important that I have to share with you. May I have a moment of your time to appropriately express this?"