Every little bit that Caleb learned about Caduceus' life before the Nein was fascinating. It seemed so quiet and idyllic. Caleb probably would have gone stir-crazy - not from being out in the middle of the forest alone, but from not having a vast library at his fingertips. If someone were to ride out once a week or so with a cart full of books, he could easily live that sort of quiet hermit life with Caduceus and a few cats. He hadn't really thought about the future much. For him, the future seemed certain to end only one way and he had never allowed himself to consider any other options. The thought that Caduceus had been considering about it touched him but also made him a little sad. He just didn't think he was going to live to see that future.
But there was no sense in dwelling on sad thoughts. Not here. It didn't matter here. The only thing that mattered was that they were together now and things were good now.
"Saving the world seems like an awfully big thing," Caleb said, poking thoughtfully at the pie. "I would like that, though. Even if we're not all right on top of each other, just being in the same city and knowing where everyone is would be nice. I hope you're there, though. Wherever I am. I don't think I want you to go terribly far from me." And the price of affection was that eventually something would separate them. Hopefully it wouldn't be for quite some time, and Caleb would do everything he could in order to steer away from it, but the thought lingered anyway.
He turned his hand over and squeezed Caduceus' hand back, smiling over at him. "I could also get used to you cooking for me. Whenever you like - whenever it isn't a bother. It's not a skill I've ever possessed, so I'm not sure if I could be any help. But I'd happily taste-test anything you're not certain about." It was, of course, a purely selfish offer because this was incredible and Caleb had no problem tasting any of Caduceus' other experiments. And he wasn't just saying it, either. It was obvious by the way he was enjoying their dinner tonight that Caduceus had found yet another way to care for his pet wizard.