Needless to say, Simon was surprised to find no cuts or burns. Maybe the blood was from something superficial. Well, that’s a good thing! And the worry for his friend gave him something on which to focus. Something other than his trauma dumping on the guy in an effort to explain why he’d turned into a blanket burrito for several weeks.

Simon blinked at the touch. Though he didn’t pull away, Silvio probably felt the way his instincts told him to wince away. And the way Simon fought them to accept that affection.

“I’ve never told anyone before,” he admitted quietly, looking down. “But… You’ve been so good to me. I felt like… I don’t know, like you deserved to know, but also that I could trust you.”