[He felt it, of course, that pull to not let go. It felt good, better than it had any right to. Richard was the only one that made him feel desired after all those years, and that sensation he was vulnerable to regardless of how much he might otherwise deny it.

Still, he released the younger man and took a step backwards while Richard retrieved the knife. Then he held out a hand to offer his lover to walk with him out of the forest, abandoning the fallen straw dummy who had played victim to Richard's rage before his arrival.]

I appreciate that. I doubt it will come to that, but I prefer to be prepared. I think I left a set of clothing at your place already.

[Which should be an indicator how often he found his way to Richard's house. He had not considered it would set a tone of their growing closeness and intermixing lives, but more it just made sense.]