Dan wouldn't be able to articulate it-- he's not quite aware the words came out, only that this space and this person feel like something he's never been able to attain before.

He relaxes, bit by bit, at the steady soothing pattern rubbed into his shoulder, and when Marcus encourages him to lie down, he goes. Acting more on impulse and feeling than anything, he edges further into Marcus's space, testing, the whole set of his jaw asking, pleading for a little more, a little closer.

There's too much for Dan to parse it. He tries to trust what's shining through not to steer him wrong. It hasn't before.

Trusting, some shade of hopeful, he reaches for Marcus's hand, pulling his arm around him and that hand to his chest.

please