Not all her success, no. It was her abilities that he was honing, training, developing. He wasn't making her way for her, it was her own mind and body which passed the tests and trials.
Which was why he was sure she would do fine while he was absent.
"I'm good. All good now." A slight frown passed over his face with the echo of a name, but it wasn't nearly as strong as earlier. It was just the way he had used the words which seemed right, and it shouldn't be.
But there was too much to distract him - and focus him on what he was doing - in the vision of her, easy and relaxed, if only for a moment before he startled her.
She was beautiful. Her scattered richly over her shoulders, adding to the grace he never stopped noticing a softness which was rare. And the concern... there was something which it meant, but he couldn't put his finger on what. And he didn't have time to waste on it.
"Natalia." His face was definitely smoother, easier now. Not quite a smile, but brighter all the same. "You will have to go without the extra work for a few weeks. Without me here to supervise it, at least."
no subject
Which was why he was sure she would do fine while he was absent.
"I'm good. All good now." A slight frown passed over his face with the echo of a name, but it wasn't nearly as strong as earlier. It was just the way he had used the words which seemed right, and it shouldn't be.
But there was too much to distract him - and focus him on what he was doing - in the vision of her, easy and relaxed, if only for a moment before he startled her.
She was beautiful. Her scattered richly over her shoulders, adding to the grace he never stopped noticing a softness which was rare. And the concern... there was something which it meant, but he couldn't put his finger on what. And he didn't have time to waste on it.
"Natalia." His face was definitely smoother, easier now. Not quite a smile, but brighter all the same. "You will have to go without the extra work for a few weeks. Without me here to supervise it, at least."