Dinner: Aedan/Marta
As subtle as she was trying to be, he noticed the hunch of her shoulders -- nothing at all like what she had been that first time when she came to his home -- and too, how she angled away from him. There was a puckering at the edge of his eyes, like he was watching something he wasn't quite sure of. A squint, almost, before the lines melted and he stepped back to give her plenty of space. He was sure again, that she would never say if something was wrong.
But something was, down to the jacket she held in front of her like a shield. He didn't ask, just regarded her silently, the scents on her skin that mixed into his home. Bleach, and make up for the first time, cleaner, soap, shampoo, the faint edge of someone else -- but that was not entirely unknown. And with the posture -- he stood up a little straighter, and he would have sighed if he still needed to breathe. Someone was hurting her.
Someone was going to be hurting for it.
The corner of his mouth quirked up, his decision already made, but his smile was almost gentle. "You can wait by the fire if you like. I'm finishing up in the kitchen. I've been shy with the greens though; do you think you'd rather have asparagus or a salad? I have both." He kept both, not for him -- human food was like paper in his mouth -- this was strictly for human guests. "I might have some green beans, but I think the asparagus will suit better," he called as he headed back for the kitchen. Either way there would be some greens somewhere for her.