For a moment there, he was pretty sure he’d fucked up, pushed a little too far, said something a little too direct, but then Zelos’ response came, and Malba, he really—he could feel a deep warmth spreading across his cheeks, his chest fluttering in a way that had nothing to do with any disease or bad dream.
“H-heh. I, uh... selfish though, isn’t it? Me being so glad I was the one that dragged you home, heh. Of all people, Zelos, you...” Malba let that train of thought die—or forced himself not to voice it, anyway. Of all people to end up with, why a guy like Malba? Zelos deserved so goddamn much, everything and more. If only his world had given enough of a shit to see it. “Really... it’s really okay here, Zelos? With me?”