"Wait, Elian—"

"Please listen, Mills." Elian put his hands on Henry's shoulders. "I need to say it."

Henry shut himself up.

"You made sure I didn't kill Pan again. You let yourself forgive me, became one of my best friends, even!" Elian placed his hands on Henry's neck and looked into those hazel-colored eyes of his. "You are the kindest, most forgiving, and really just the most good person I've ever had the privilege of knowing, Mills."

Elian shut his eyes and heard Henry take in a shaky breath. Henry touched their foreheads together, not saying a single word.

"It's true." Elian continued. "I love you, and I can never be sorry about it."

A beat before he continued. "It hurt, seeing you with her, but if you were happy, that would have been enough for me. Loving from a distance is something I've gotten used to, but this is an opportunity I can't let go, and it truly is selfish of me."