[Again he listens quietly, takes it all in, exhales softly through his nose at the parts that sting more than they should. He remembers what Florian said, about how Abel was desperately seeking something he'd been denied his whole life and giving everything into that seeking, and... maybe he was more right than he could have realised.

Was it his fault? Or would this have inevitably happened to Abel anyway, here, with someone who wasn't him flicking that switch on and then slamming their fist straight into it to keep it that way.]

Give me a minute.

[He mutters the words out and stands up, but doesn't leave the room. Instead he walks back and forth a few times with his hands linked behind his neck, pacing in careful, measured steps. A minute or so passes and he sits back down, close enough to slide his arm around Abel again and pull him up against his side.]

Come here.

[Then he sighs.]

I'm not gonna be mad at you because you want things, especially when I'm part of that... problem. [... Huff.] And if someone you've been with here is making you feel... safe, and loved, and you want to love them back, then... I'm not gonna try to take that from you. Even if I don't really want to share.

[He nudges his nose against Abel's temple and kisses it.]

I just--... [Taking hold of the man's hand, he runs his thumb across the backs of his knuckles.] I don't want you to get hurt.