"Yeah it is." There's no heat to it, just statement of fact, as if she were saying that the sky is blue. "Anyway. Cm'ere." And without waiting to see if he will, she turns to sit sideways on the bench, legs crossed in front of her, eye closed, hands loosely upturned in her lap.

He does - of course he does, he's still not really used to things being choices rather than orders. He's slightly on edge, but tries not to show it.

Nothing happens, for a minute; she just sits, breathing calmly, until a blue glow forms in her hands, weak and insubstantial at first, but strengthening over the course of another minute to a rough sphere of cool light. It stops brightening well before the point where it would be hard to look at, and when it does, she raises her hands to offer it to him.

He's still, watching, mildly entranced. He hesitates, hopes he's read things right and reaches out, hand stopping just short of the light, not entirely sure precisely what Pradnakt wants him to do.

She doesn't react, but Daisy, watching from behind her, does: "The light will heal you, if you touch it."

He ducks his head down. "I- that- don't need-" he stops. And it's not as if he's run out of words, or cut himself off out of fear or reprisals. He seems like he's working through something in his head.

Pradnakt says she can sense these things, and she's...offering? this. And it doesn't feel like a trap. And she seems to think he does need this. (And if it is a trap, he's not going to avoid it either way.)

He finishes the motion, letting his hand reach the light.

It's like a cool drink on a hot day, or finally sitting after walking for miles, or, very much, like the first beautiful moment of losing control of his fire after far too long spent controlling it: relief, visceral and omnipresent, as hurts he's carried his entire life fall away, replaced by a feeling of health and strength.

...

It's overwhelming. And incredible. And-

His face is wet, and he shouldn't be crying. But it isn't distress so much as sheer relief. And he... He doesn't have the words to tell Pradnakt how grateful he is. (Because the 'thank yous' he was used to saying to his previous masters all seemed almost hollow.)

The light flickers, returning before he can register the loss, and redoubles for a moment before fading out over a few seconds.

"Much better," Pradnakt says, when it's gone completely.

He blinks at her (shoulder) one hand reaching up to swipe at his cheeks, trying to dry them. (The action making him look younger than he actually is.) "I- this-"

He doesn't have enough words. (There's a tiny smile on his face.) He settles for signing his gratitude, fingers repeating the signs because it doesn't feel like enough.

"You're welcome, Nova, you'e welcome," she grins. "Here - hug?"

He thinks about that - doesn't just nod straight away, because he thinks it sounds like Pradnakt wants a hug. (He thinks about how alien and comforting Daisy's hugs had been.)

After a few moments, he gives a slightly cautious nod. (He's still not entirely sure this isn't Pradnakt wanting something more, but... He thinks. Is nearly sure that the chance of it being like a hug from Daisy is worth the risk.)

It's quite a bit like Daisy's hugs. Warmer, though, and softer, with no uncomfortable poking metal. "Yeah, much better," she repeats when he moves.

He smiles, not entirely of his own volition. Pradnakt's happier, he can tell, and that's good. And the hug feels good. (Safe, a tiny voice supplies, even if he's still not entirely sure what that word means.)

Yeah.

She holds him close for a minute, then gives him a squeeze. "We really should get to work. I bet we can have the walls up by nightfall if we try."

He nods, and sort of pulls back, ready to go and do just that, but half waiting to follow Pradnakt's lead.

"Go on, you know where we're going," she teases, gently.

He blinks, ducks his head blushing slightly, but also half-grinning. (It just feels so natural to respond that way, even if that feels strange and alien once he notices that.) Then he slides off the bench and heads towards the door and outside.

And Pradnakt and Daisy follow. "You'll be working with Daisy," Pradnakt says once they're outside, "getting the bricks set up. She'll show you what to do."

It's laborious but not complicated, making the bricks and applying mortar to them so Pradnakt can put them in place, but the pace is easy, and Pradnakt does most of the heavy lifting, moving barrels of water and bags of adobe reinforcer around with ease.

He seems content to be working, and manual labour is familiar. He settles into an easy rhythm following Daisy's instructions. He doesn't precisely tune out, aware of where Pradnakt and Daisy are and what they're doing, but he seems...almost medatitve in his work.

They work that way until lunchtime, by which point the wall comes up to Pradnakt's waist, with two batches of bricks waiting to dry; if they keep working at this pace, they'll have the walls up in plenty of time.

"Break time, I think - Nova?"

He looks up, a little startled at being addressed, and takes a moment to process the actual words. "I- yes, ma'am?" he agrees. (This one is a little more out of habit than a considered preference, still a little startled she's stopping him)

"Any idea what you want for lunch?"

He shrugs first, a little helplessly, and then cautiously shakes his head. "I- no, ma'am, I- sorry."