[ It's sweet, the reassurance Chris gives. It also doesn't touch the empty pit in his chest that knows better, keeping it tamped down so shades of it only show in the lingering sadness of his smile as he watches his curled fingers be kissed. ]

I refuse to enter into a future where I'm cruel and heartless. I would be. I have been.

[ Reeling one of their clasped hands in, he drops a kiss on Chris's knuckles in return. ]

I would rather die and change a hundred times over rather than be predictably hateful.