"Marius. Amicus. Whatever is the matter?" Dorian asks when the very small version of his friend reaches out to tangle himself against Dorian's leg with a grip that seems intent to last several days, if Dorian lets it.

He shuffles himself to bend next to Marius, folding his hands over small shoulders with an expression softened with care and concern.

"No. I won't leave you on your own if you don't want me to? Not until you're with someone else you're comfortable with. But eventually I'll have things that I want to do ... I think they frown upon people as small as you in some of those places."