Instead he has a solid slab of muscle, a man with a jawline to die for and a straight, sharp nose. (His cheekbones are still quite fine.) But he is not delicate. Not like that. He has his slightly pearlescent Third Eye, but thats the only thing of an odd sort of beauty to him.

Gaius realizes, he says, that this is so dangerous to them; that feelings crop up and that there are terrible costs they must pay to complete their missions. But it does not stop him from rewarding Estinien's tenderness with a slow kiss, taking the time to savor the taste of the dragoon's mouth. If there are feelings, so be it. Gaius has had them, and had set them aside in the name of his duty more times than he can count. He can do so again.

"It was barely glimpsed," Gaius assures him between kisses. "To focus about anything except you was difficult at best."