Marius wants to tell him that of course he deserves to be lucky; to be lucky enough to survive multiple bullet wounds and survive the hell of his own life. But he knows that the other man would just protest at any verbal attempt of convincing. Instead, he rubs soothing circles on the man's arms locked around his waist, putting as much warmth as he can into the touch.

They've both endured where others have fallen, and they both, in their own ways, bear their own guilt about it.

He feels Rat tilt his head; his skin tingles from the motion of it, and when the kiss lands on his neck, his breath catches in his throat. That night at Kagura lingers in his mind, even fogged as it was by lust and the desperation to escape loneliness. Rat's touch illuminated him like a spirit then, even as it does now. He'd felt alive for the first time in months; he feels alive now and he yearns for Rat.

Moving his own head and bringing one hand up to cup Rat's jaw, he pulls him in for a kiss, slow and deep like a growing flame.