That idle comment of just how good of a teacher Henry had been to the confused, troubled, and vulnerable Malia brought a small simper to his features. He was proud of his boyfriend for assisting someone else in their time of need, truly, and yet he hadn't been prepared for the reaction Henry had to that simple comment. That near choking sound within the man's throat brought his own vibrant blue eyes towards his boyfriend, in an questioning sort of fashion. That sudden inquiry if Henry was okay was one Sterling was moments away from mirroring, at least until Malia commented that Henry didn't even have anything in his mouth. That observation sounded far too suggestive in nature and the girl's sudden covering of her hand over her mouth only brought a level of...suspicion to the whole affair. There was something going on that he wasn't being told, of that he was rather certain. It might have been something insignificant - an inside joke from some meal they had shared, or....god only knows what and yet, Sterling was certain there was something all the same. A small, weak simper touched his lips all the same as the man simply stood there silently, watching the pair of close friends. God, he wished his own relationship with Henry had even a hint of that happiness the two seemed to share. Maybe once it had....but not anymore.

That sudden change of topic only further perturbed Sterling and yet, for now, he let it slide. Sterling could hardly help that look of surprise upon his features at Henry's suggestion to meet with his pack. He had never thought that his boyfriend would allow him the opportunity to meet his pack. He was so particularly secretive about that part of his life though weather or not he was ashamed of it or trying to protect Sterling from it, he wasn't sure. That word of warning Malia provided him, however, was taken with a raised brow. Tetradore, huh? That was an interesting name, one he hadn't heard before and yet, he appreciated the girl's honesty, much less her clear effort to help him. His gaze turned downwards as Henry's hand gingerly brushed against his own once again at the mention of this man, that gentle squeeze was clearly meant to be reassuring though, of what, Sterling hadn't the slightest idea. His bright blue eyes rose slowly towards the face of his boyfriend and yet, Sterling could clearly see something was on his mind.

His head bobbed in silent understanding as Henry informed him that this 'Tetradore' was hardly as bad as Malia made him out to be. The woman's quick word of encouragement made his eyebrows rise ever so slightly, much less her assurance that she was just joking....mostly. Sterling tried to make light of the situation, truly, that soft chuckle leaving his lips. "Okay, reserve judgment till I get to know him, got it." He responded. That grin, however, faltered at Henry's admittance that this...man was his own maker, the very being that had turned him into the creature that he was. It was clear that Henry himself had mixed feelings about the man, or expected him to, at the very least. However, unlike Henry, Sterling hardly..faulted that mysterious fellow for the current state of their relationship. He didn't hate Tetradore, or Henry. Hate, after all, was a very strong word. He had never hated anyone, really, except for the drug dealer that had supplied his own mother with the substance that had led to her death, but even that, a part of him realized, was her own fault. "Oh...is...everything okay between you two...then?" He inquired almost tentatively. After all, he wasn't sure how Henry felt about the man, much less how he felt about talking about it in front of Malia. Still, if Henry had come to terms with his own maker, then Sterling had little reason to do anything less than support him. After all, that's what a good boyfriend did, right? They were supportive in those bad times and....this change in Henry's life certainly classified as that.

STERLING TENEMBRAGE