He just stared at Gladio for a moment as the words sunk in and the meaning behind them and the realization that they were on a completely different page. And then he shook his head, maybe a little bit too much. “No, gods no… I didn’t - I’ve had sex, like…” like what, a lot? Because that would just make him sound like some man whore and so he doesn’t finish the sentence, just sort of laughs and and glanced at the ground. “I - you’re good, big guy, you didn’t... you know.”

He paused, pressed lips together, took a breath and started again. “I meant in the actual, literal sense of it? I don’t - I always leave after.” A shrug as something crossed his features. Shame maybe. That this was the first time he’s actually voiced this. That he’d become that person who used casual sex to try to duct tape himself back together and never let it be anything more than just getting off.

Until now. Because last night had meant something. He wasn’t exactly sure what. Different than it had been with Noct, but something nonetheless. It had felt like something, like this little spark in his bones, some part of him coming back to life and it terrified him.