"I'm really glad you came here," Declan murmured after a time, letting himself, against his better judgment, be soothed by the touches. Had anyone ever stroked his hair? Part of him deeply wished he knew of his life before everything. Maybe he was happier then? Maybe people had cared for him and he wasn't alone. Now he was relying on Aoba, and the man didn't need that.

Still, he wanted to be selfish for just a moment, and he left his head there for a time. Eventually he had to sit up properly, his usually bright eyes glowing a little duller for the weight of his emotions.

"I shouldn't...have touched you without your permission. I'm sorry. You just..." He stopped himself, unwilling to say what was a lie to him, even if it was really more of a half-truth. He corrected, forcing himself to honesty despite the fear of it.

"...I...I just wanted to hold onto you, for a minute. Knowing you'll be gone...I don't like it. I don't want to be selfish...but I wanted to hug you. I needed a hug," the final confession shaming him. Hundreds of pounds of pure muscle, the ability to literally punch a head clean off a pair of shoulders, the responsibility to protect innumerable lives...and he "needed a hug". Pathetic.