The temptation to pull Reason forward, to leave him to handle this mess, was incredibly strong. The problem Desire could already see in that, though, was that it would just make him miserable and probably retreat and then they’d all only be several steps backwards from anything like progress. It was supposed to simplify things when Aoba just spoke up and said what he wanted, dammit!

He stopped when Declan grabbed him, but didn’t turn around. “‘Obviously’?” he repeated the word back at him, snorting.

A long moment later he stuck one hand out to the side, palm upwards and loosely cupped as if holding something there as he said, “Reason.” He then did the same with his opposite hand. “Desire.”

Finally he turned those hands inwards, fingers spread and all indicating himself between them as he finished, “Aoba.”