(no subject)

He wouldn't have noticed if Frogspawn hadn't gently touched his shoulder. But he has a soft smile for her, and doesn't jump.

"Hey."

Frogspawn sits next to him and slips an arm around him.

"You going to tell me why y'brooding? Or do I have to guess?"

Guppy can't help but feel mildly surprised that she's able to tell the signs so quickly, but mildly impressed at the level of attention she's been paying.

"I had a panic attack when At and Will needed me to do something. I hate being like this."

Frogspawn looks at him for a moment, then gets up and nips back into the sitting room. She comes back and deposits a kitten on him. Because cat therapy solves much angst.

"Guppy, you've been getting better even since I've known you." She strokes his hair. "And nobody's perfect. You get stressed out because you take everything seriously, but that's also why you're good at what you do. And you're so determined to work things out that I'm sure you will some day, once you're not worrying about Jake and your family and stuff."

"I just feel so pathetic."

"Guppy, the kittens are pathetic, that's why they're so adorable. You're not pathetic, and you're still adorable."

Guppy has to grin a little at that. "So I'm another little stray you're fostering?"

Frogspawn giggles and ruffles his hair.

"No, I don't want to give you up."