Mark continues to get used to kissing, and to the bottomless pit of terror and uncertainty and joy that kissing invokes. He almost feels like he can handle it. Maybe. Almost.



Oh hell, now he's crying. Fuck. What's the secret? How do people deal with this? Do they just not feel this way at all when they touch each other? What is it like instead?

He tries to ignore his silent shivering tears, but Ari can probably detect them. They are not subtle.