Peter ended up gaping at Simon after those comments, like his breath had been taken away. His lips slowly closed with a wet sound, a swallow, trying to find words. No one had ever said anything like that to him before, made him feel quite this way. JC made him feel included, stronger, like he could do something more with his life, but Simon...

Simon made him feel wanted in a way he couldn't pin down. Not just a sexual thing but he went out of his way to make sure he was included when they made plans, even when he was out of his league, came to talk to him before he left each day, and that look right now...

"Then I will," he said quietly, his gaze dropping to his plate, then quickly started to ramble in his nervousness. "You are, too, you know? You're the one who has all the fire inside of him. Who keeps us all fighting. We need that. ...I need that, too. I don't know if I'd have the courage to do any of this without you. Nevermind that I probably be brain dead or worse."