Piper liked the fact that she didn't say much. He didn't tell her so, because he was afraid she might consider it an insult, instead of the compliment it was. So he kept it to himself. He tipped her chin softly, and he just looked into her eyes. He didn't say anything else, didn't add any noise to the perfect silence of the room, didn't feel the pressing need to chatter that he felt around other people.
His face was expressive; told her what he was feeling, a glimpse behind a carefully erected wall years and years old. He skimmed the back of his hand over her cheek, the touch all knuckles and caress, and he smiled. What was it that he was supposed to be doing here?