I know some things should just stay broken

i'm well aware this should remain unspoken

The osprey was cradled protectively within Sterling's arms as those glassy bright blue eyes looked up at his ex. His familiar, after all, had become everything to him in the months that they'd been apart. She was a near constant companion when he could count on nothing else and the warlock was near desperate to save her. He'd hardly considered the poison that might have infected the bird, his body still too filled with adrenaline to think clearly. Henry's gentle suggestion to return home caused his head to bob slowly as Sterling pushed himself up the wall he had been leaning on to stand. Admittedly, he hardly considered Henry's distinct lack of clothing, as his ex draped his arms around his shoulder. How he found himself weary to peer down each street with Henry - his own thoughts far more focused upon a fear that the Hunters had returned to finish the job rather than his ex's state of undress. Thankfully, the apartment complex was hardly far and the journey back to it was largely uneventful. It was only once they stepped into the apartment that Sterling finally found himself relaxing even in the slightest. The tension that had once afflicted his shoulders fell to a sort of defeatedness.

The moment the front door closed behind them - Henry's arm dropped from his shoulders, his ex strode purposefully down the hallway towards the bedroom, leaving Sterling behind. His gaze followed the man, only for Sterling to become vaguely aware of the cold that clearly afflicted the Were. A small frown crossed his features before the bird in his arms chirped softly, drawing his attention back towards her as he tried gently to reassure her that everything would be fine. It had to be. The bright blue of his gaze turned upwards as Henry moved to join him again and faintly, Sterling could hear the sound of water falling from the shower. For a moment, Sterling hesitated, his teeth nibbling upon his lip as he glanced between Fiducia and Henry. Eventually, with Henry's coaxing, Sterling offered his ex the osprey in his arms, entirely trusting Henry with the very thing that was perhaps the most important to him. "Be careful..." He uttered softly, his voice little more than a whisper. Sterling was, admittedly, reluctant to leave Fiducia, his gaze drifting over his shoulder more than once as he made his way into the bathroom.

Faintly, Sterling could hear Henry move through the bedroom next door, just as he was aware of each soft sound from his avian familiar. He was quick to strip off his clothes, even though his fingers seemed to fumble from the gentle shaking of the adrenaline that had only finally started to leave his body. He sported a bruise here and there from the impact with the brick wall but the warlock hardly thought anything of it as it stepped into the warm embrace of the shower to wash off the dirt and grime from his confrontation. For once, he was hardly inclined to linger in the comforting water - the Warlock far more single minded than usual as he stepped out of the shower nearly fifteen minutes later. Sterling stepped out into his bedroom - altogether relieved to see Fiducia seemingly well as she chirped at him from her perch. The arrow had been removed, the wound healed and...for now...at least, it felt like the pressing danger had passed.

A soft breath of relief left Sterling's lips as fingers gingerly stroked those feathers. It was the sounds from his kitchen, however, that brought Sterling back on task. He moved towards his closet, fishing for clothes for himself and an extra pair for Henry. The warlock's feet padded softly down the hallway and into the kitchen, only to spy Henry in front of the stove flipping a sandwich. "Henry....here." He muttered softly as he offered his ex the bundle of clothes in his arms - it was pieces of Henry's own clothes that had been left behind after the Were had left the apartment. How...odd it was to find themselves back here.

Sterling

I'm on the ledge while you're so
God damn polite and composed