Istredd does have his own gremlin now. So of course that at some point Kell just flashes a wicked grin at him. He doesn't look like Lucifer when he does it. He most definitely doesn't. No similarities, no. Impossible.

"Doesn't it mean you can make it feel whatever you want?"

Kell has Rhy, he can share some expertise... then his whole mind screeches to a halt. Protective is something Kell got just a little used to by now. As in it doesn't send him into a fit of shocked euphoria all the time.

proud

It's progress that he doesn't question it. Kell learned to trust Istredd when he says things. Unbelievable as they might be. So there's no dramatic display of shock. Just a wave of warmth spreading out of his heart, like a little sun lighting up in his chest.

Then he remembers...and Kell's mood tanks. Yeah, quite the thing to be proud of. His whole worth was always tied to how good his magic was. He had no need to worry before. Now, when he really wants Istredd to be proud of him. Just like he said he does. Now, that he's really invested. Now, Kell found something that was able to stop him.

"Just because you don't know how I'm failing at my alchemy studies. There's not much to be proud about there."