Evan had been shocked - honest to god shocked - by Barty calling him lover, and that, that - oh god, Evan had loved him so long, and now he was surprised? Barty had used pet names for a long time, admittedly not that one, but what did that? Oh god oh god oh god.
Barty took a glass from nearby. He had been keeping water. Gently, Barty brought it up to Evan's lips and tried to help him drink some of it. If he concentrated on helping Evan, he didn't have as much time to think about what had happened to him. "Here you go," Barty spoke softly to him, "I've got you, yes, that's good." Bloody hell.