Nerissa laughed a little, and Rick could feel it in his chest where her face was still pressed against him. It wasn't much, just a little huff of laughter, but it was the first time he had heard her really laugh at something.
Rick then felt it... A familiar tingling at the edge of his mind caused his heart to race.
The system notification appeared in his line of sight. It was clear enough that he could still see Nerissa, but it was also clear enough that he couldn't miss it.
[AFFECTION GAINED: NERISSA ABYSSRYN]
[Current Affection: 1/10]
Rick's eyes got a little bigger. After everything that had happened, after seeing her whole sad story, after watching her break down and holding her through it, the affection counter finally started to move.
But that wasn't the end of it.
[Current Affection: 2/10]
Nerissa moved around in his arms so that she could see his face better. There was something in her eyes that hadn't been there before.
