“Braze,” Damon murmurs, crowding much too close for someone who doesn’t want this, and he’s not making it very easy for Braze not to turn and wind his arms around him like the bond so cries for him to do. “I’m-”

“I think that it’d be best if we pretended this didn’t happen. He answered politely, stepping away from that warm hand and keeping his eyes down. We’ve never been a part of the same crowd, and I see no reason to start now. You don’t want the bond, and neither do I, so just... forget it.”

And Braze walked away, strides quick and body tense as he left behind...