"No, I'm not that-" he's not sure what adjective comes here. Maybe stupid, but he doesn't want to accuse Marcus of calling him that. "I usually just pull everything out, shower, patch up and sleep. You're making it a lot faster. Easier."

It's what Andrew used to do. It's what Matt never did-- he hid this from Matt. Maybe if he hadn't... that doesn't fucking matter. He watches Marcus wash away blood like Midnighter's a person who understands normal, human pain, and he sighs.

"You asked if I wanted somebody to come home to," he says. "This kinda shit's... why. Not because I'm, y'know, because I need a nurse. But- this is nice, right?" He reaches limply for Marcus' head, trying to caress his jaw, to put their foreheads together. His voice has a twinge of despiration. He's not the only one who feels this, right?