*~*Talia's POV*~*
Lex stepped closer to me, almost so he was pressed against my back. He placed his hands on my shoulders and squeezed gently. He was so much taller than me that I still felt like a child next to him most of the time, but I didn't care. I love him, and that's what matters.
"You should have told me you were back." He said from above me. I was comforted by his presence. I knew he would take the weight of the world from me if I needed him to. For now, he could just take my weight. I leaned back against him, pressing my back against him and feeling his warmth.
"I haven't been back long. About twenty minutes. I went over the data that Acacius was recording throughout the whole process, then I came here. I needed to think and be away from people for a while."
"Even away from me?" He asked, and there was a playful tone in his voice.