Those three words struck him with the force of a mallet to the gut. Scorpius couldn't find any words and it wouldn't have mattered if he knew what to say. His throat closed up with emotions he didn't know he could feel, hadn't known he would ever feel, for Hugo. He felt more alone than ever. Hugo still expected him to be the Scorpius from the future and he couldn't be that Scorpius. He couldn't be the Scorpius who was brave enough to give up everything for Hugo. Instead, he was the Scorpius who was doing what his family would want him to do. He was trying not to be the disappointment his father thought he was. He was choosing his family over his selfish wants.
"Fine," Scorpius forced the word out, voice low and rough. "I'm not the Scorpius you love and if you still expect me to be him– I don't want to be with you."