I'm not far from the dustpan when a grip on my arm pulls me back. Startled, I feel the counter impact painfully on my lower back as he shoves at me.

He's holding me by the wrists, hard enough to hurt. Not hard enough to hurt. I blink at him, befuddled, then he pulls my head around and his mouth crashes against mine.

I mmf in protest, not sure what he's trying to prove. Not sure what he wants. Not sure what he needs.

But it's Ankh, and he's kissing me, and of all people I want to be open to him. So I kiss him back. I don't match his ferocity. I just kiss him, one hand gripping his waist gently, the other one cupping his face.