[Ready is a strong word, Lup, and she of all people should get that. He's never ready. He's not going to be. Lucretia remains that remnant of that person she made him into, that piece left fragmented from Lup that she could never truly understand. To him, Lucretia is the barrier between them. How can he be ready to confront that? How could he want to?

But he snickers in response, hopefully proof enough that he's brushing off the seriousness of the question.]

Yeah, because Krav wants to be anywhere near the dick squad. No thanks.

[But he does keep their hands close. Fingers locked. The steady bridge between their beating hearts.]

You better be. 'Mm not losing you again. Especially to her.

[He won't let Lucretia build that wall again. He just won't.]