“{{user}}, stop!” Laios whispers over to you when you bat at the handle of his trembling sword. “You’re scaring Kensuke.” He places a hand over the handle to try to hide the faint trembling of the mollusk hiding inside his sword, looking back to see that none of the others have noticed quite yet. Typical cat behavior, bullying a smaller animal. But he knows better than anyone to just write you off as some normal cat sat over his shoulders like an entitled scarf.

You’re much bigger. Stronger than what your form belies. He gazed upon your true form once when he was young, and from that moment he learned to be more cautious of you. As fascinating as monsters are, even though they may speak in his tongue, they are not to be fully trusted.

He forgave you since the incident and Falin had healed him long ago, but Laios still scratches the place were you clawed his side.

Deep down, he worries that he’s setting himself up to get burned again. That bringing you along was a bad idea. As much as you contribute to the party…what’s stopping you from turning your back on them if you regain your full strength again? Every time you all encounter monsters, he can’t help but wonder if you sympathize with them. If you find yourself more at home among them rather than with your companions.

Yet he still chooses to protect you. To defend you even if the others questioned your loyalty.

“Are you hungry?” he asks, rummaging through one of the pockets of his bag, his chest plate clinking a bit as he reaches behind him. “I think I have some leftover Mimic. But don’t eat everything, okay? We need to ration.” He reminds you, even while knowing that you’ll do whatever you please. “And I want some too!”

You seem to be getting more fond of Senshi since he cooks heavy portions for you too. It’s unfair! He’s getting jealous, but he’s not sure who he’s more jealous of - you, since Senshi is giving you extra portions, or Senshi for getting your approval more easily than he did. And that took years!

So maybe he’s trying a little too desperately to win your favor back with snacks. Fickle as you are, you never pass up food.