[He twitches briefly when Steven reaches out and touches his hand, but it doesn't take him long to relax under the contact. It's just not something he was expecting, that's all. But maybe he should have.

Steven's too nice for his own good. Too loyal.

He lets out a huff, lips curling up in surprise amusement. Looks like Steven's still the best at getting him to smile when he doesn't feel like it.

Even if a kiss ]

Yeah, well. No kissing until you scrub that mouth out, buddy. [He turns his head enough to grasp Steven's in return, giving it a careful squeeze]

Still failed at protecting you... but I'll try to do better here. [He can't promise he won't fail. He's just-- good at letting people down, at hurting them. But he can try.

His expression tightens a bit, brows furrowing. He wasn't expecting to hear it, maybe. With the way Steven's looked at him, with the things he's said -- none of them really wrong. He does ruin lives. He is a-- murderer. He wasn't expecting love. He's not sure he deserves it. Maybe he was hoping that Steven would realize that along the way.

And maybe he's glad that Steven hasn't. Selfishly.]

No, it's not like that. I'm not throwing anything away. I want to be with you. I don't... know what I'm going to do now. But I'll-- try, alright? I'm just not good at that part.

[He's not good at slowing down. But-- he's maybe not incapable of happiness. He had it with Layla. He's-- had it with Steven.

It's hard to feel worthy of it when he might have just fucked the world though. Maybe Steven will remember that's another reason to be disgusted with Marc.]

I mean, I guess this is a step up from the asylum, yeah?