"Not that way, Nova. Never that way." His voice is fierce, but he is glad for the rain so he can hide his tears. 

He turns back to Aaren, leading Nova to follow him.

Nova stays clinging to Zev as he lets him lead him.

Aaren had set a leisurely pace, and has paused briefly, not that far ahead.

As promised, it doesn't take that long for them to reach the neatly tended semi-detached house.

Aaren unlocks the door and steps inside, leaving the door open for them to follow.

Zevran slips his hand into the pocket where his knife is, but follows Aaren inside. His other hand finds Nova's and laces their fingers together tightly.

Aaren's pulling his jacket off, and taking off his shoes to put them on the rack beside the door. (It's perhaps noticeable that there's three different sets of shoes on the rack, one obviously a girl's, the other two male.)

"Close the door please?" he requests.

Zevran reaches behind Nova to do so. 

He does not move from further into the house, or step away from Nova.

"We should get you both into something dry. And- showers if you want."

"Dad? I thought I-"

A girl with bright green hair stops at the top of the stairs.

"Everything okay?"

"This is the daughter you mentioned?"

"Yes. 'Chelle, these are Zev and Nova, they're going to be staying with us tonight, that okay?"

"Of course," she agrees, seeming genuine. "Some of Lan's clothes are in the tumble dryer, should be warm."

"-is Lan still here?"

"No, his parents called him to go home. He figured he should actually listen. You're getting out of your wet clothes as well, I hope?"

She seems nice. And genuine, which is not something Zev and Nova have had for a while. And this seems like a far too elaborate set up for- for that. But his second fear is that someone will find a way to take Nova away from him, and there isn't much Zev wouldn't do to prevent that.

"Nova needs dry clothes. And some rest. He hasn't slept in a few days."

"Well, we can sort both of those things. Dad, dry clothes. I've got these two for now."

"Yes, ma'am," Aaren says, snapping off a salute as he climbs the stairs. He presses a kiss to her hair as he passes.

'Chelle smiles at him, leans briefly into him, and then continues her way down the stairs. "Bathroom right there," she says, pointing to the door at the end of the hall. "There's clean towels on the towel rail. I'll grab you both clothes. And no arguments from you," she says directly to Zev. "I'm not leaving you in wet clothes."

Zevran frowns at the easy affection, because his heart aches painfully. He wants that. He's never had that. More than anything, he wants that for Nova. 

He turns around to Nova. "I'll stand outside the door. You should get warm." He tightens his hold on Nova's hand, then hates himself for it.

Nova clings to him tighter.

"The bathroom has a lock," 'Chelle says carefully. "Gimme a minute to grab you some clothes, huh?"

Zevran leans into Nova, closing his eyes as he presses his head to his. "What's wrong? What do you need?"

How do I fix this?

"I don't- don't leave me. I- please?"

"Okay, okay. I'm with you. I promise. Always."

He looks up at 'Chelle. He points. "That door?"

She's been quick, and is just coming back into the hall with a pile of clothes. "Yeah. Here. They might be a bit big, Lan's a complete beanpole, but they'll be closer than mine or Dad's."

He would say thank you, if the world had been kinder to him and Nova. He gives 'Chelle a nod as he takes them, then gently coaxes Nova towards the bathroom. 

Once inside, he deposits the clothes on the sink, and gazes around in wonder. Not even the cult had bathrooms this clean. 

"You first. I'll-I'll turn away while you change," he says to Nova, closing the door.