[ Percival can hardly stand to look at him again. His words make his heart, previously heavy with melancholy, feel light and set aflutter. His smile doesn't make any of this any easier, either. He slowly crosses his arms and gives him a small, weak smile in return. ]

As you should have from the very beginning. [ But that was neither here nor there.

And unfortunately, they're far from done here. That should have been it— a reaffirmation of a promise to have each other's backs in this world.

But it's not, even if that would have ordinarily sufficed. ]

There is... something else I wanted to talk about, as well. [ He frowns. ] After I hurt you, and you... [ broke the spell? ]