It was true, Alex's fingers were occasionally trembling, hopped up as he was on what he had dubbed 'Elia's what Red Bull wishes it could be' concoction. But there were only so many times he could shut off the impulse to rest, even with that, and he was running out of times.
"But Mom," he said softly, curling his hand softly around the talisman. "I'm almost done, I want it done before we move. This is what I'm good at, it's why Kennet put me here. And probably also partly to keep me from calling him Circus Dad more, but pssh, details."
Marcus was giving off a soft warmth that reminded him of a cozy bed, and while he did think of his own, barely used over the past few days, that stubborn, protective streak in him ran far deeper than probably anyone except Issac knew.
"They took Issac," he continued. "Frederic died. I just don't want it to happen to anyone else."