Krem blushed a bit under Noah's intense attention, so much more direct than Thomas's more furtive glances had been, but less hungry than Hild's. He watched him carefully, curious to see his reaction.

When he spoke, Krem sat up a bit. He cupped the back of Noah's neck and leaned their foreheads together. "It's alright," he said. He closed his eyes, and touched Noah's sweater. "They are real--you're real, Noah. It's alright, if I can't see you right now."