He made her feel stronger. Like a better person. Him. Just like he felt like he knew how to be a better person when he was with her. That shouldn't have made him feel like some gunk scraped off the bottom of a shoe, and yet.

That's what you do, isn't it? Play your part.

"Well, it's just," he fumbled slightly, "it's sort of a lot, havin' a mind-readin' psychopath lookin' into your head like that."

It was a new experience for him, was all.

"Was she tellin' the truth, though?" He let his hand cup her shoulder, let himself hold her a bit tighter. He wanted her to feel that he wasn't letting go. "Am I your first?"