Without even thinking of it, James mirrored the motion of reaching out to the vampire standing next to the pair of them. They were a family. The fact that it wasn't just him that cared made things go all soft and mushy inside him. He often ignored his own feelings or needs to take care of those around them and this wasn't more true than the two he was holding onto. He was their's and they were his. As much as he annoyed him or played his games with them, they cared that he was there and alive.
Maybe he could rethink pulling as many pranks. Maybe actually take Rooks grunts seriously instead of giving all the wrong answers when people asked? He'd really have to think about that one. It was the best... Especially when he grunted in annoyance and left. Top notch.
"There really is no need to waste attention on it." The kiss to the back of his hand grounded him more, making him relax all that much more into his seat. A lot of people would be weary around kindred if they knew they actually existed, but they didn't know them like James did. He hadn't met very many other ghouls, he'd always been more uninterested in all that, but from the ones he did, they knew that they weren't all monsters ripping apart the night.
"If he made a move, maybe, but I don't think he'd dare, not against you two. Plus, from his looks, I think I could take him."