With his free hand, Dal counted off his four cardinal rules to himself: no unprotected sex, no drugs, no choking, no bondage. Those were it. At least three were violated, possibly all four. He didn't know for sure, which brought him deep concern. He'll have to deal with that when his head's clear.

After that, if felt harder to look at Gabriel. His sweet, loving man. Yes, his. That's how Dal thought of him. It wasn't that he thought Gabriel wouldn't want him anymore, that's just silly when he's proven time and time again that he didn't take issue with what Dal did for a living. It was more than Dal actually felt dirty after this one. All these marks could take days, weeks to disappear. A persistent reminder that he'd screwed up. WAs he too complacent? How did this even happen?

"I know," he answered, his voice quiet but with unwavering certainty. No one could stop bad things from happening, but a person who cared could always be there to see one through to the other side of it.

"I can't really remember clearly... it's all fuzzy like tryna remember a dream."