[ he shouldn't be surprised, not about this, and he makes an effort not to be, letting his fingers skim the healed line where blood had poured not so long ago. there's not a mark aside from the caked muck of their time spent in that room, the guilt of it stark even as he continues to hold onto him. his grip loosens slightly, meeting his eyes as his expression thins.

this is something he should have known. but how? ]

You should have told me before. [ maybe then, he wouldn't have been so worried about the amount of blood he'd lost. ] But –

[ larus forces himself to breathe, using his other hand to gently fold dorian's fingers over before squeezing them. he's dirty and tired and honestly feels like he could sleep for the next day or two. there's no doubt the other man probably feels the same or at least close to it. ]

I won't ever use that knowledge against you, and you shouldn't let this place do that either.