[ In truth, he's started to resign himself to the fact that whatever relationship he and Alucard have, it's always going to be one without touch. It's- difficult to get his head around, because the only benchmarks he has for positive relationships are with his family or with Sypha, none of whom had the same difficulties. But it's ceased to be a source of distress. It's just the way things are.

It means he's been trying to make the most of the contact they unavoidably have lately. The few moments in his arms as he's moved into the chair or in and out of the bath. A hand on his shoulder as he tries to use the stick to walk. Enjoying it seems a little wrong, because it isn't as if Alucard wants to have those moments of contact, but it's also the closest they'll ever get to physical closeness.

And then Alucard kisses him and he just looks up, stunned. That just happened. They don't touch, not unless there's some practical reason, and yet that just happened. ]

Heh. [ He says uselessly after a moment, for want of anything to fill the silence. ] Sypha's going to get jealous now, you know.

I- [ love you too. ] -when you're ready, for all of this, you know I'll be here. That mess didn't get rid of me, doubt anything else will any time soon.