☀ — and till the end you're my very best friend

It had been a short while since Clementine and Riddlersgame had arrived in Snowbound - maybe one or two days? -, and Pierce had been doing his best to give Rid some space, considering how unhappy the older man had seemed to be with him when they first got here. However, he knew he couldn't put this off forever, so, once he'd sat down with Clem for a bit and finally coaxed her into taking a nap, Pierce gathered himself up, rubbing tired eyes and glancing across the cabin to  Riddlersgame, who sat by the small bookshelf Pierce had set up after moving into this new camp. He was still working on filling it up, but it was already stacked with Rid's favorites- or, his old favorites, before his memory had gotten a little messed up.

He couldn't help his nervousness as he neared the other man, though he tried to remind himself that this was just Riddler. They'd known each other for almost two years now, and Pierce had admired him since the day they met. For the longest time, they were both all the other had, yet Pierce still felt as if he were approaching a stranger. God, this was such a mess. And, would their interaction before Pierce left impact their relationship? Would him having to take care of Clem for such a long time - or what Pierce assumed had been a long time - change things, too? Were things going to be weird, or strained, now? The freckled tom could feel a fretful frown beginning to tug at his lips, so he pushed the thoughts aside, taking a deep breath.

"H-hey, Rid?" Pierce spoke up softly, taking a hesitant step closer to his... friend. The taller tom searched Rid's face as he halted before him, looking for that familiar, clever glint in his eye or the small twitch of a smile at the edge of his lips. "Clem just laid down to rest; I, uh- we need to talk. " Was that too curt? It's not like Riddler would have been any nicer about it, he supposed, but they all knew he was the nicer one in this relationship. "If you don't mind," he was quick to add, feeling his heart flutter ever so slightly in his chest as he watched the tabby before him. How he'd missed him; how differently he'd thought this would turn out. He'd expected their reunion to be tearful and heartfelt and to have gotten a chance to pull the man he, though he wasn't sure he should admit, loved oh, so much into a warm embrace. Was that something he should mention, too- what even were they? Pierce bit his lower lip in thought, but said nothing else, awaiting Riddlersgame's response before he began.

"speech"

[member=369]RIDDLERSGAME[/member]