There was nothing Percy could have said that would have been more painful to hear, and fuck the pain of moving the pain of listening was worse. Closing his eyes, Cass swallowed hard, trying to push the pain away though he didn't know how.
Physical pain was just that, and it would always go away. This was different, because he knew this pain wouldn't go away.
'It seems I was successful then,' he said, his voice carrying a bitter tone that wasn't normally there. 'It was what I was after when I staged that stupid sn...' he stopped himself, but kept his eyes closed for a long time, listening and half expecting to hear Percy get up and leave. When he sound he feared didn't come, he looked up again, though he didn't know if he could really look at Percy.
Still he forced himself, seeking eye contact. 'I know I deserve nothing less than what I asked for,' he said quietly. 'But you can trust me, or you could if you dared to.'
He hesitated for a moment, not sure of what he'd say, but forced himself to go all the way. Percy was a Gryffindor, so what the hell, some guts could never hurt, right? 'Nothing I ever told you was a lie. Yes I pretended to cheat so that you would push me away and yes I didn't tell you about my mum, but everything I said was absolutely true. I know I failed you, and I knew already then that you'd likely never forgive me, but need you to know that I never told you a lie.'
'If you gave me half a chance I swear I would never not trust you or fool you or keep things from you again. I am not so much of a fool that I do not learn from my mistakes. I don't make them twice.'