Even though he was expecting Niko to reach out to his mind, it was still a bit jarring right now. He flinched, visibly, and it would have been felt emotionally as well within his mind. Too many had been inside his mind as of late. He hated the sensation, outside of their bond which he had more or less adapted to. Hell, when they first met, Niko’s telepathy had brushed James the wrong way almost immediately.
A kiss would have been more than welcome after that. Reassuring. Needed, actually. Logically, James would think later on, on how they couldn’t just pick up where they left off four years ago. He wanted nothing more than to carry on as though no time had been lost. That he hadn’t been a prisoner in his own skin.
The little kiss was not the same as what he needed. It was like a napkin covering a gunshot wound. All the same he soaked it up. Warmth spread from his fingers to his wrist, to the rest of him. He relished even that little touch from Niko’s lips. He worried his lips to keep from getting overly emotion once more.
He swallowed down his own lump when Niko spoke. He nodded, unable to really say more at the moment. It took a moment but James felt the tug of the left side of his lips to the start of a smile.
“I missed you too…” The smile didn’t last. “There’s… something you need to know… about the girl. The one who came here with me.”