[ he can tell that the amusement has shifted into worry, her spoon soon nudging around her food rather than eating it. and tomassen finishes his last bites of stew before setting his spoon into the bowl, watching sofia think. letting her spit out what was bothering her. which was, naturally, that kaz was in over his head.

his relationship with kaz had been both rocky and not. now, they can finish each other's sentences, but when he was younger, it had been something of a struggle to land on the same page. both overthinking everything, or so tomassen's therapist informed him. he supposes it was natural, though, for kaz to have hesitation -- unlike with sofia, kaz had had a father that he had known, and loved. getting used to another was difficult at best.

he soon pushes those thoughts from his head with a slight shake. ]

Not silly. [ wise, really. ] But Kaz is hardly an idiot. Besides, the girl is barely five feet tall; I doubt she could get away with much.

[ including, but not limited to, robbing him senseless. and even more practically: ]

Everyone gets their heart broken once, or twice, or three times before they find the person for them. Assuming this girl is someone that will stick around, well -- [ and tomassen shrugs to himself. ] You can't protect him from everything, my darling.