That was not the response Steven was expecting. His hand instinctively tightened on Watts's and - yes, that did still have weight, and warmth. Still real. Not dreaming.

"I... all right," Steven said, realizing that Watts wasn't wrong. If - big if, granted - but if Watts gave it some thought and still wanted to try, wasn't it fair for Steven to try in turn? "And if you change your mind it's all right. I won't be - " hurt was a huge lie so Steven skipped past it " - offended. Still friends and all that, yeah?"