He was just as confused as Chris was about all of this, but he was much better at hiding it than the young paladin was. When he spoke quietly, a jolt seemed to run down Cole's spine and he reached out to take the letter, not pulling it away from his grasp so much as just holding it there are he was busy looking at him and wondering just what was with him and why he was feeling this way about him of all people. The ache and longing only seemed to get worse as Cole got closer to him and he was tempted to reach out and touch him.

Leo's words snapped him out of it and he noticed Chris stepping back and instinctively he followed, reaching out while tossing the letter aside. Paladin business could wait. This couldn't. He was frustrated and confused and angry and all he wanted to know was what was going on and why this was happening. "What are you doing to me?"

Grabbing Chris's wrist, something seemed to click into place and the ache and longing twisted into something warm and right that made him let out a laughing sob. This was what had been missing for all these years and Cole wondered briefly how he could stand it for so long when he was supposed to feel like this instead. He didn't notice that his form was starting to change, markings appearing on his body as his irises turned black and his ears became pointed. All that he could focus on was Chris, the other part of him that he didn't know was missing until right then.