[ He's watching you now, down-turned gaze and all, the weight of your emotions prompting him to lean in and press a lingering kiss on your forehead.

He wishes he could tell you that you're safe now. That what is in the past is in the past. But that sounds trite, even to him. The bed and those chains has been sitting in that rotting corpse of a castle like they'd been moved in just yesterday.

He gently sets his forehead against yours. Eyes shut, teeth briefly worrying on his lower lip. ]

Nothing you could ever be -- then, now, whenever -- could make me love you less, babe.

[ A breath. ] I just want you to feel safe. To help you feel safe, however I can.