[The compliment sends a blush across Thoma's face, smiling back at Aether. He doesn't feel like he's amazing or anything special at all, and it's clear he's flattered by it. That and it's nice to see Aether smile, and that's really what he cares about right now out of all of this.]

Hey, it's nothing, I just want to help is all.

[Really, that's the truth, he could never let someone in need go without help. And he considers Aether a good friend, someone who he's always wanted to get to know better for one reason or another. He's a cute, kind, honest person that he's always been at least a little attracted to.]

Let's just stay here for a while and relax a bit. I've got the next few days off of work, and maybe tomorrow we can work on figuring out more. I got a feeling that guy is going to show up soon. I was the reason he fled so quickly, right? He didn't want to be discovered.

[But if Aether stays with him, he can't hide forever, right?]