slipped along the way

[unmarred]

(from here)

So... up the stairs they go, mostly side by side. Mark lags by a step or two.

There is a persistent silence.



"I... didn't think you'd react the way you did," he says finally. "I mean, I thought you might—that there might be something there, but not that you'd actually."

Comments

[unmarred]

"Sorry, did I...?"

[thisvorlunatic]

"A little bit. Don't worry about it."

[unmarred]

"I love you," Mark declares.

[thisvorlunatic]

"I love you too," says Stalas, and when this does not produce an immediate explosion of tears, he follows up with a gentle kiss.

[unmarred]

Mark hugs him some more, this time careful not to add to his bruises any further.

"Do you want to get dressed and go downstairs?"

[thisvorlunatic]

"As opposed to staying here and doing most of that over again? Yeah, all right," he says. "We can always come back up. Particularly if Miles is a tough sell on letting you follow me following him home. Give him some time to get used to the idea."

[unmarred]

"Good plan."