[ Nathan's whole mind shuts down the minute she begins talking. So often, for years and years now, Nathan has tried to keep himself under control, to convince himself that he no longer feels "like that"

( just one pill. Just that one pill -- )

but the moment that she says his name, that she begins to talk like that, every little illusion that he'd built up for himself over the years shatters in and instant, and his long, long, long repressed self breaks out. thus, for a small instant, as he begins to talk, as he looks at her with wide, almost uncomprehending eyes, he lets slip some of his scent. He doesn't try to do it, but he still does, and the minute that he smells himself, he tries to press it down, make it vanish. To his credit, he does manage it, but it was still there.

Because entirely aside from how she was asking (hadn't she been the one who pushed him away? Or they both agreed it was just for the best, and they had had Roman, and then...) he really did genuinely want to = ]

No, it wouldn't. [ Okay, just become excited without becoming excited. He could do this, because his heart is fluttering and his stomach is full of butterflies and he takes a step forward to take her hand in both of his and shut up, shut up that's normal ]

Are you inviting me to stay there? I could do that! For sure, I could get a house or an apartment over there, we're family, and family should be together! I promise I'm not like that anymore!

[ Just ignore that spike of scent from a moment ago ( just one pill... ) ]