Cat...

[That random, ridiculous urge to kiss her rears its ugly head again, and it's a lot harder to suppress it this time. He wants to believe that it's purely out of a need to comfort her, but it isn't just that. He's still hurting, still so numb over Abel's death that he wants to lose himself in something, something that isn't violence and hatred and his own bitter self-loathing.

But he's too cowardly, too frightened of her rejection to even make a move like that. Well, okay-- he also hasn't brushed his teeth yet. Common courtesy. Instead he merely places his hands on her shoulders; looks into her eyes with that same indomitable smile.]

Don't worry, Cat. You can't hurt me. I'm practically indestructible, remember? [He chuckles. It sounds embarrassingly hollow, and eventually he lets it die. His eyes are serious now; contrite.]

I'm... sorry if I hurt you, though. I just... needed to talk to someone. Pretty selfish of me, I know. You don't have to talk to me if you don't want to. I just thought that... [He trails off, unsure of how to even finish that sentence.]