"Don't say it like that."

"...I don't say it to upset. I say it because it is factually correct."

"Factually correct? You're saying it like it doesn't matter if I kill you because you're already dead. That is factually what you said."

They watch him, a little blankly, a little confused, a little 'well, yes?'.

Zveran gestures at Masque. "You're alive. You have a life."

They shrug carelessly. "Many things have life. It doesn't mean people value it."

"I value yours! I want you to live after I'm gone!"

"You're the first."

...They probably didn't mean to say that.

Zveran blinks. His heart feels like its squeezing too small, too tight to contain everything he feels. His stomach is full of stones. 

"I'm sorry I didn't find you sooner."

"Ah- It's- you couldn't have done anything."

"You deserve better than what they did to you. You deserve better than what this world has given to you."

Masque sighs quietly. "Perhaps. But in this: we cannot change what had been."

"No. But I can assure it will never be that again. No matter what-" 

Masque tilts their head at him, querying.

"Do you know? For certain? That if I defeat Sin, you will die with it?"

"Does anyone know anything about Sin for certain?"

"I can't finish my pilgrimage if your death is at the end."

"-Why not?"

"Because I love you, and I won't kill you!" Zveran shouts. 

...Masque has no idea how to respond to that. Stammers, tries to say something, can't.

Sits down heavily.

He breathes heavily through his nose, trying to calm himself, so that he doesn't frighten Masque further. 

He sits opposite them. "I'm sorry."

They manage to find their words. "It's...okay."

"It's not really. You don't have to say that." He smiles somewhat ruefully. "I didn't mean to use it like a weapon."

Masque sighs, looks at their hands. "I- don't think I know. How to love you back."

“That’s fine too. You never had a chance to learn.”

Zveran looks at them sadly for a moment. “Could I ask something selfish?”