He looks up at me finally, and... oh. His face. The new lines that have formed there. The worry, the pain. It shines even more plainly to me than the tears that still stain his face.

"Don't..." I'm about to protest, but then his hands cup my cheeks, and I have about enough time to blink at him once before he kisses me. Hurriedly. Urgently. Like we're running out of time.

I whimper softly against his mouth, my hands flexing once before they both move, one up to the back of his neck, the other sliding down from his hair a bit, coming to rest on the back of his head.

I part me legs to urge him closer, guide him to lean against me. I don't want any distance between us, not even the slightest space.