[ Whatever he says to the contrary, he's been in her hands since they both woke up here. Messer's trust may operate as an undercurrent to everything that he does and believes, but it also carries the strength and depth of one. He accepts her movement with a watchful eye, having caught her sigh at his answer. That's how this often goes. Soothing over their wants with their duties, accepting that it might not come to more than that, for both of their sakes. This time is the first time he's felt transparent in light of it though, knowing there are no more secrets. At least not entirely.

His fingers twitch as she arranges herself under his arm, nerves alight for so many reasons. Pain, yes, but also anticipation for Kaname's sudden closeness. It is what he wants, what he's always wanted, but he'd clamped down on the urge to pursue it as if his constitution had teeth. Replaced soft things with severity, with what he was good at. Flying. Fighting.

After it all, knowing he's thought about this before, at some point that seems far so off — is this okay? ]

I've heard that what I did resembles repayment of a debt. But that's not right.

[ Mirage asked him. He couldn't refute, couldn't affirm. Messer shifts his arm, bending the crook of his elbow to draw her closer to him, to hold her as well as he's able. His threshold for pain won't betray him now, not if he can help it. His cheek remains on the pillow, watching for any sign that he can chase away the hesitation in her eyes. ]

You don't sing intending to be repaid for what you do.

[ That's never what he's heard in her voice, in the long hours of having her to focus on. ]

I don't regret this, because my duty is to protect you.

[ Anytime he used that reasoning, it was because this lied at the crux, the axis of who they are. ]