Carlisle smiles once again, resting himself as Glacius places his head upon his chest. Just as Carlisle relishes the chill of the alien's icy shell, Glacius might be able to feel the heat still radiating from the clergyman, a far cry from the human's normally cool temperature relative to others of his kind. It dissipates slowly, nearly in tandem with the steady beating of his heart as it finally calms.

For a time, Carlisle dozes off, his body relaxing more and more as the minutes tick by and it falls back into its usual state, save for all the ink and sweat still covering him. It's only when he starts shivering that he's roused again, his mind pulled from the edge of oncoming nightmares to remember that he's safe, he's here.

"Glacius," he tests quietly, afraid he might awaken his partner.