[ He recognizes that change, too - the fact that they can say decisively that they want to go with him when they could barely tell him they wanted to be with him before gives him a moment of happiness in the midst of these unfortunate circumstances. Even if he'd screwed up and hadn't been able to save them this time, he knows, at least, that he'd helped give them the strength to express themself a little more - to accept themself more. One failure isn't enough to cancel that. Lupin's eyes soften as their slender fingers slip through his.
Truth be told, he doesn't know if he can. He doesn't know how this place works more than anyone else does - when they find a way home, who's to say they'll have enough control over whatever it is to allow Cairngorm to come with him? There's no proof. Nothing other than his own will. But that's enough for him. They've visited each other's homes before, if only in dreams and other facsimiles; it can't be impossible. He'll find a way. Hearing them agree, or want to agree, only strengthens that feeling. That means they love him so much that they'd be willing to forsake everything for him, after all - meager as that "everything" may be - and only the somber circumstances of this discussion keep him from rushing forward to meet that love with his own. They want a life with him...
(He's sure he'll spend a lot of time thinking about that later. For now, he needs to take care of them.) ]
... Because of what Ghost told you.
[ an educated guess, based on their last conversation. His tone is soft; his free hand, unable to resist any longer, gently cups their chin, urging them to look up and meet his eyes. ]
There's no shame in putting your own happiness first. Especially when it's so hard-won. [ but his words won't be able to convince them of this; he knows it already. Not for the first time, he wishes he knew what would. Tentatively, he offers a smile - very small, gently reassuring. ] I don't mind waiting for you to find out. Consider it a standing offer.
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Truth be told, he doesn't know if he can. He doesn't know how this place works more than anyone else does - when they find a way home, who's to say they'll have enough control over whatever it is to allow Cairngorm to come with him? There's no proof. Nothing other than his own will. But that's enough for him. They've visited each other's homes before, if only in dreams and other facsimiles; it can't be impossible. He'll find a way. Hearing them agree, or want to agree, only strengthens that feeling. That means they love him so much that they'd be willing to forsake everything for him, after all - meager as that "everything" may be - and only the somber circumstances of this discussion keep him from rushing forward to meet that love with his own. They want a life with him...
(He's sure he'll spend a lot of time thinking about that later. For now, he needs to take care of them.) ]
... Because of what Ghost told you.
[ an educated guess, based on their last conversation. His tone is soft; his free hand, unable to resist any longer, gently cups their chin, urging them to look up and meet his eyes. ]
There's no shame in putting your own happiness first. Especially when it's so hard-won. [ but his words won't be able to convince them of this; he knows it already. Not for the first time, he wishes he knew what would. Tentatively, he offers a smile - very small, gently reassuring. ] I don't mind waiting for you to find out. Consider it a standing offer.