"You meant you'd like me in a gauzy loincloth and bow not in a dating sense?" Adam asked, wryly, with just a hint of teasing.

He kept healing Alec's hand, surprised by how easy it was. The temple was doing the work, he suspected. All Adam had to do was try, and care. "It cost me in time and effort and pride to offer you those scraps. You tell me they're not good enough and demand more. I don't have the time and effort to spare, and I've taken enough damage to my pride from you. I get that you're starved for it, and maybe the temple should have had the damn sense to give you a bridge that had more to offer, but I don't. If you can try to help me be your bridge instead of constantly demanding that I give you more and implying that I'm here to take everything from you, then maybe we wouldn't end up in these situations."

Adam gave him a defensive glare, then returned his eyes to his work. "Can you try to wrap your skull around the idea that I am not your replacement? I am your temple's gift to you. I can't afford a fucking bow."