Marius enjoys the sight of Freddie's smile, warm as the touches he places further down Marius' stomach, circling round his navel. He lets his own fingers slide down further, pressing down more intently as his breath hitches continues to hitch.

He manages a wry sort of smile in response to Freddie's observation, succinct as it is. "Quite," he agrees. "It, as they say, sucked." The initial months following both Rat and Kathy's disappearances were the worst; the sleepless nights and the bottles of alcohol consumed in a reckless quest to quench his sorrow. He still has his bad nights, of course; nights wondering whether he'll ever stop being the one left behind. But throwing himself into school, work, and nights like this help keep the aching at bay.

Freddie leans in closer, and Marius moves in as well, pressing into Freddie's touch moving lower still. His breathing grows obviously ragged and he gasps a bit at Freddie's fingertips moving across the hair on the lower parts of his body. He brings his other hand to begin smoothing down Freddie's face, moving to his chest as his other hand moves down his thigh. "That's what I'm trying now," he says. "To not get attached."