[It isn't the first time his worse thoughts have been dragged to light between them, and while it is easier with practice, he doesn't dread it any less. They have had difficult conversations — and Sasuke is aware they are most often his own doing. There is that paranoid, damaged state of mind wondering when it will be too much, when he will drive Cy from him.

Against that is everything else. Persephone, and sharing the memory of his home, and every reassurance Cy has gently massaged into him just like those physical hands on his body now. Carefully, Sasuke moves to ease himself from Cy's lap only far enough to pull slicky off — he doesn't try to move away, but he doubts this will be a quick conversation.

It takes a while to actually speak.]

Your response felt... as though it would matter less to you if I loved someone else than how much it would matter to me if the situation was reversed. Then, I thought it made sense, because you've been with countless others. I'm one of the same. [A deep insecurity, welling up again.] I know it's unfair. I don't think that I believe that, but it was how I felt when you said that there were other people out there, at first.