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I didn’t mean for that to happen to Annie. I’m so sorry.

It’s okay.

You’ve gotta understand, she got sick because we didn’t have a deal the way you and I do. It was only for a second, but I didn’t want it to happen at all. She doesn’t feel like you, I can’t... she wasn’t.

I’m sorry that happened to us , Hollis said gently. It won’t happen again.

Hollis, this is my fault. All of it is my fault, you don’t understand.

I don’t care. You’re back with me and I—

Hollis was too thankful that Walt was back inside him to be angry, too desperate. He wanted to tear Walt out of him so he could eat him back up like a beast. He wanted and wanted until it made him feel grotesque.

Hollis had their arms and their mouth, so he kissed their wrist so Walt could feel the heat of it. His own skin. Licked it, lush and greedy until the slime of it choked and doubled them over and Walt’s breath came fast in his head.

I didn’t know you could... How does it feel like that? You touching you. How is that worse than when we’re touching each other?

Hollis ignored Walt, raked his teeth across their palm, then sucked hard enough to bruise.

We’re going to the hollow when this is done. And then you’re going to tell me your story and face the music.

Oh God, oh God.

When you’re done, we’ll make a new deal, and we’ll figure out how this works best for us.

Hollis rubbed his mouth against his purpling wrist until the shocks of it made Walt twitch.

Hollis!

Fine.

He stopped and breathed until their heart slowed. Waited until they were presentable.

Then he wiped their tears with Yulia’s scented toilet paper and stood up and faced the mirror.

Walt gazed back at him with brown, bloodshot eyes.