Salvatore leaned back in his chair, studying Milo's face for a long moment before he spoke again.
"It's good if you have a friend and want to play with him. But I need to know who he is and if he is safe to be around."
Milo's shoulders loosened at the words, relief flooding his features.
"He is good," he said quickly, the excitement spilling into his voice before he could hold it back. "He works in marketing. He's been kind to me since my first day. He never asks for anything. He just... talks to me like I'm normal."
Salvatore watched the way Milo's hands had unclenched from his trousers, the way color had come back into his cheeks just from being allowed to explain. He saw all of it, and something in his chest tightened at how easily this stranger had earned that kind of brightness from Milo.
But he only smiled, calm and unreadable.
"I'm still not sure yet," Salvatore said. "I won't risk your safety. But I have a good solution for you and him."
