( His hands slide from Brad's chest to his shoulders, then tangled in his hair, at rest somewhere along the back of his neck as Brad works. But, fuck, that gets him just as bad as the kisses do, and Brad can feel it - the way the shiver runs down him when Brad speaks.

His lips part, and - he swallows. He hesitates, again. He wants it, he wants it, but... )

... You sure you wanna give yourself to someone who threw you away once before?

( He didn't, at heart. He said he did, he acted like he did, but he never let go. But, in Brad's view - Nero's sure it sure as hell seemed that way, and Nero spent a lot of time wanting it, betraying Brad every time he tied to break apart what they had, and what Brad kept trying to build back up.

His tone is thick with guilt. )

... Someone like me... doesn't deserve someone 's amazing as you... If I do it again— I could do it again. And I'd just go down with you...

( Even in this hypothetical scenario, he doesn't break his promise. He won't leave Brad again. He'll accept judgment. And if he does do in Brad somehow, he's going with him.

But Brad deserves better than that. Better than him. )