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An expression she couldn’t read flickered across his face—surprise, perhaps.

The monitor on the wall beeped softly, showing Rory sitting up in bed, looking around with wide eyes.

“He’s awake,” she said, already moving toward the door.

“Wait.” Thraxar retrieved a small container and handed it to her. “For the child. The protein compound he accepted yesterday.”

She took it, once again struck by his thoughtfulness. “Thank you.”

When they returned to the cabin, Rory was methodically arranging his small collection of metal pieces on the floor. He looked up as they entered, his gaze going immediately to Thraxar. His fingers fluttered in greeting.

“Good morning,” she said, kneeling beside him. “Are you hungry?”

He shrugged, but accepted the food container without taking his eyes off Thraxar. The Cire remained in the doorway, watching them with an unreadable expression.

“I will return shortly,” he said abruptly, turning to leave.

She made sure Rory ate, then helped him wash and dress in the small sanitation unit attached to their cabin. Their few belongings—a spare set of threadbare clothes for each of them, Rory’s small collection of found objects, and the datapad Thraxar had given them—looked pitiful laid out on the bunk.

True to his word, Thraxar returned about an hour later. He carried a large bundle under one arm, his expression almost… hesitant?

“I observed that your possessions are limited,” he said, setting the bundle on the bunk. “These are no longer required for my use. Perhaps they could be modified to serve your needs.”

She unfolded the bundle to find several garments in various shades of green and brown. The fabric was soft but durable, clearly of much higher quality than anything she’d worn since their abduction. The items were far too large—designed for his massive body—but with some alteration…

“You’re giving us your clothes?” she asked, unable to keep the surprise from her voice.

He looked away, but his tail came up to curl around her wrist. “I do not need them and it seems… efficient.”

Efficient perhaps, but also kind and thoughtful.

“This is very kind,” she said softly. “Thank you.”

He shifted his weight, looking uncomfortable with her gratitude.

“I have some tools you can use for alterations.” He gestured for her to follow him.

He opened a small cabinet in the lounge to reveal an array of tools.

“You can use this for cutting,” he explained, demonstrating the controls. “And this one joins fabric without the need for thread.”

She ran her fingers over them, shaking her head. On the asteroid, she’d had to mend their clothes with needles fashioned from wire and thread unraveled from discarded garments.

“I’ve never used anything like this.”

He demonstrated on a small piece of fabric, big hands surprisingly graceful, then helped her cut out the pieces for a shirt for Rory.

Rory had followed them and he observed for a few minutes before settling on the floor nearby with his collection of metal pieces.

As she began carefully assembling the pieces they’d cut, she noticed Thraxar watching Rory. Her son had arranged his treasures in a precise pattern on the floor, humming softly to himself as he worked.

“He organizes objects,” Thraxar said thoughtfully. “There is a pattern to his arrangement.”

She nodded, carefully joining two pieces of fabric. “It helps him make sense of things. The world can be overwhelming for him sometimes. Finding patterns gives him control.”

He considered her words, then sat down next to Rory.

“May I observe?” he asked.