“But, that’s not true…” he started, his voice growing lower, more trembling. His brows wrinkled as he reached for his head Instinctively massaging his temples. He did like Thoth, there were very few people that Grayson actually disliked and those he had he did with a burning hatred like Mordred, or his own father. Thoth was not one of those people. They may not have been the best of friends but Grayson didn’t dislike him.

What Grayson did and said that day was truly awful, he knew that now better than ever. It wasn’t what Thoth needed, and Grayson probably shouldn’t have been there, he wasn’t capable of handling such delicate situations at the time. With every word Thoth spoke it was like ripping an old bandaid off a festering wound, he winced several times over while feeling the heat that Thoth's words brought. “I was being a bully without knowing I was actually being one.” He wasn’t validating what he had done, it was an inference he made while stating it aloud. Grayson despised bullies and that day he became one, it was unfair that Thoth had been on the receiving end. But knowing that couldn’t take away all the hurt it caused, and Grayson knew there would be a long road ahead if he was going to make amends. “I’m so sorry Thoth.” Was all he could offer, his voice dropping again, a sincerity that held deep within those words.

Thoth retreated and Grayson didn’t say anything else, for what could he say? He couldn’t keep apologizing for his past mistakes, he needed to look towards how he could make amends for them now, slowly, over time.

Time, everything just needed time.

All he could hope was one day he’d prove to Thoth that despite what terrible and unwelcome things Grayson had done in the past, it didn’t make him the person that he is today. And maybe one day they could call themselves friends, or even just be on friendly terms.

If there was hope to make amends, that’s all he needed.

But something broke the still and sterile air as something came bounding down the hall and entered the hospital wing with so much enthusiasm it was out of place. The strange water-dog, Grayson never knew what to actually call it, paused long enough to be scratched by one staff member before moving onto the next one. Out of his peripheral Era’s tail began to slowly wag as as she stood up on all fours. Thoth’s familiar resumed its track to his fairy but not before diverting its path and leaping onto Grayson. Grayson made a soft Hmph sound when they collided. She was everywhere, all over him. Rubbing her face across his chest then under his chin all the while searching for his hands. Grayson laughed, whole heartedly, a broad smile slipping across his lips as a toothy grin spread nearly ear to ear. Era jumped up on the bed and play-bowed and yipped sharply, wanting to be apart of the playful fray. Grayson’s heart felt immediately calmer, lighter as he continued to pet her. “Aren’t you just the life of the party!?”