The tears weren't fair. They betrayed him when he didn't want them to. He didn't want to cry in front of Ernie; that was for whenever Ernie was out and Zach had the chance to curl up in his bed and cry privately. Not like this. He felt so weak and pathetic crying in front of Ernie. It certainly couldn't help with anything.
"It's not," Zach replied, even as he leaned into each touch. Merlin, it hurt so bad even while it felt so good, so right to lie there with Ernie.