Ronin came home to Nod screaming and tearing pillows and blankets off the bed to throw across the room. Orla was standing nearby, watching to make sure he didn't hurt himself, but she seemed to have decided it was best to let him burn off some of his anger and frustration.

"General Ronin," she jumped a little when he came in the room; she hadn't been able to hear the front door over Nod's screaming.

Nod saw him and froze, hands fisted in the sheet he was trying to tear off the bed and panting from his exertion. He stared at him for a moment, then gave a cry and leapt from the bed, flinging himself at Ronin's leg and crying.

Ronin lifted him up, and Nod slapped his chest with an angry whine, then pressed his face against Ronin's shoulder and clung to him, his little body shaking with sobs.

"Hey," Ronin shifted him so he could see his face, "no hitting."

Nod refused to look at him, instead burying his face back against Ronin's shoulder and continuing to cry. Ronin brought his hand up to cradle the boy's head, and Nod didn't push him away this time.

"Is something wrong general?" Orla asked in concern, "you just left."

"No, everything's find," Ronin leaned his cheek against Nod's hair, "I'm taking the week off though."

"I think that will be good for Nod," Orla looked relieved, "he does better when you're here."

"I know it hasn't been easy the last few days," Ronin said, "thank you for staying with him."

"I'm happy I could help," Orla nodded, "I really think he'll settle down and start improving again if he can have you to himself for a few days."

"I hope so," Ronin tightened his arms around Nod just a little.

Orla said goodbye to Nod, making the sign for it, and Nod hesitated, then waved to her tentatively before putting his head back on Ronin's shoulder.

After she left, Ronin stood for a moment looking around the apartment. It was strange to be home so early and even stranger to think he wouldn't be back on duty for a week. Injuries aside, he hadn't taken that much time off in one stretch since before Tara had become queen. As much as he was taking it off for Nod, Finn had been right; he needed it too.

Nod was finally quieting down, but Ronin suspected if he tried to put him down to take his armor off, he would start to cry again, and it seemed like too much work anyway. Ignoring the mess in the living room that Nod had left in the wake of his tantrums the last few days, Ronin headed to the bedroom.

The bed was a disaster, but he laid down with Nod anyway, wrapping a blanket around the boy to give him some cushion from his armor. He would take it off soon, but right now they both just needed a nap.

Ronin woke to chirping, and it took him a moment to realize it was Nod and not a bird. He opened his eyes to find the boy sitting on his knees and watching him, chirping nervously. When he saw Ronin was awake, he thrust the plate in his hands towards him.

"What have you got?" Ronin sat up with a yawn.

He must have been more tired than he thought to sleep through Nod getting up and coming back. The plate he was holding out to Ronin had crackers covered sloppily in jam, and honey brittle, and seed cake. Nod pushed it towards him, cooing uncertainly.

"For me?" Ronin took the plate from him, "thanks buddy."

Nod's hands immediately dropped to twist in the tangled sheets, and he looked down, chirping and whistling as if he were trying to explain something. There was a streak of jam across his face, and Ronin suspected his kitchen would be significantly stickier than the last time he had seen it.

"Do you want some honey brittle?" Ronin offered, holding a piece out to him.

Nod shook his head quickly and pushed the offered sweet away, then went back to wringing the sheets in his hands and making the nervous little chirping noises he had been making when Ronin woke up.

Ronin frowned and ate a honey brittle himself while he watched the boy. Nod glanced up at him quickly, looking relieved that he was eating, then looked back down. Ronin wasn't quite sure what to make of that.

"Hey," Ronin set the plate aside and pulled Nod onto his lap, "what's wrong chickadee?"

Nod pointed to the plate and cooed again. It was so frustrating that he couldn't tell Ronin what was going on in his head. When Ronin didn't pick the plate up again, Nod looked up at him, his brow creased with worry.

Ronin picked the plate up and set it in Nod's lap, picking up a piece of seed cake to eat. It was doubtful Nod had suddenly become worried about him not eating enough, but the boy had gone to the trouble of putting together the plate for Ronin, so he must have had a reason. When Ronin finished the seed cake, Nod offered him a piece of honey brittle, looking up at Ronin hopefully.

Ronin took it and Nod relaxed a little, resting his head against Ronin's chest. Ronin had known Nod long enough that he felt like he should have been able to figure this out. While he thought about it, he ate another cracker as that seemed to make Nod feel better. Why was it suddenly so important to Nod that Ronin accept the food he made though? It was like…

…maybe … maybe it was Nod's way of apologizing or trying to make up for the mess he had made?

Ronin set the plate aside despite Nod's protest and lift the boy up so he could sit him on his lap facing him. Nod dug his fingers into the creases of Ronin's armor and refused to look up.

"Nod," Ronin said softly, leaning down to press his forehead against the boy's, "I'm not angry at you, I promise. It's been a really bad week, and I know you're sad and angry and frightened, and we need to help you find better ways to deal with that, but I'm not angry with you. None of this is your fault, not even the throwing temper tantrums part, not really."

Ronin didn't fool himself into thinking Nod understood, but his tone seemed to sooth the boy, and Nod tipped his head back and kissed Ronin's cheek, then tucked his head under his chin shyly. Ronin smiled into his hair and held him for a while, munching on sticky crackers and seed cake.