Neal brushes his thumb over Malcolm's cheekbone, telling himself this is enough. That it's a chance, maybe, down the line for something more. That even without something more, he's lucky to have this much. It doesn't even occur to him that he's doing the exact same thing he tried to counsel Malcolm against.

He presses a kiss against Malcolm's forehead, aching for it to be against his lips. "I know you won't. You never would."