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"...You look anything but fine," he says, but he hugs Mark again anyway.

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"You don't know, do you," he murmurs, shivering. "You don't know what you were going to say... maybe you weren't. Maybe I was imagining things."

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"What's got into you...? What was I..."

Stalas thinks back to how he felt in that moment, before concern interrupted.

"...oh."

He is quiet for a moment.
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Mark cringes slightly, but makes no attempt to break away from the circle of his arms.

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As gently as he can, Stalas murmurs, "I love you, Mark."

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He collapses, bursting into tears. If he didn't have Stalas to lean on, Stalas to hold him up, he'd sink straight to the floor.

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But Stalas is there, and Stalas holds him. His willingness to let Mark cry helplessly into his chest has not diminished at all.

"You know," he ventures after a minute, "normally I would think it was a bad sign that you found it this upsetting..."
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Mark giggle-sniffles and shakes his head. "Nooo," he mumbles into Stalas's chest. "I like it."

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"You have a funny way of liking things, friend."

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He dissolves into hysterical, slightly weepy laughter.

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"That's better. Sort of," says Stalas. "Do you and your towel want to come sit on the bed with me again?"

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Mark manages a nod.

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"Okay. Good. This way..."

And they and their towels make it safely back to the bed, where they can all be soft and cuddly together. Soft and cuddly and slightly damp.
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Mark cycles between giggles and tears a few more times before he reaches a soft and cuddly equilibrium.

At which point, after enjoying the quiet for a few long unhurried breaths, he says:

"I want to go back to Barrayar with you."
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"...Miles might object," says Stalas.

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"Yes, well, fuck him. He'll get over it. He's made it clear enough that he wants me in his family; if he kicks up a fuss about the circumstances, I can always go over his head."

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"Eh?"

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"To his mother," Mark elaborates.

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"Also your mother, if I understand the situation... and this will work?"

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"Oh yes. I only don't want to call her that yet because I haven't met her. I've heard enough to know."

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"Well... I'm not opposed to trying," says Stalas. "I'd miss you, if you didn't."

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Mark hugs him tight.

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"Oof."

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"Sorry, did I...?"

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"A little bit. Don't worry about it."

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