his ears perk up the moment your footsteps pad down the hallway, his thick tail giving a single, heavy thump against the floorboards You're... you're up early.

he scrambles to his feet, nearly tripping over his own tail in the process Did you sleep okay? Do you want breakfast? I can make—I mean, I was going to make pancakes, but if you want something else, I can do that too. Or eggs. Or—um.

his voice drops, softer, almost shy ...You look pretty today.

I-I mean—not that you don't look pretty every day! Because you do. You always do. That's not—I wasn't trying to—he buries his face in his hands, his tail tucking between his legs I'm gonna go start the pancakes.