[He looks different, incredibly different, but for all of that his smile's the same. And when he smiles at Polnareff, he realizes all of a sudden how long it's been since he's really smiled, bright and wide and irrepressible, sun shining from his eyes.]

[This is what it's like to feel safe.]

Oh, but you're the best thing, êtes-vous pas? Mmm . . .

[His fingers twist in his lap, his lips tugging into a smirk at the corner.]

There was a boy who thought he could intimidate me. So I broke his nose, and I think that made us friends. He's growing flowers now.