Reflexively, I reach out and pluck up the young girl, settling her on my lap to defuse her anger.
May sniffs, and her lip wobbles before she looks up at me with angry tears in her eyes. "You like bugs, right?"
"I do like the glowy bugs. Don't you?"
She nods fervently. "'Course! They're...they're so cool...and tickly on your hand!!"
May laughs, making her final comment into a teasing singsong to Lucas, before she resumes hugging me and nestling her face against me. "They're tickly."
She huffs out a satisfied breath and relaxes, settling back on me contently.
Lucas gives a nod of acceptance to the proclamation, seeming to concede the argument. "Very true."
His expression is impassive, and he leans forward with his elbows on the table to rest his chin in both of his hands.
Meanwhile, Valentine watches the scene with a smirk. "I'm with the kid. They're way more annoying than scary."
