He smiles sadly at him and shakes his head. “No, I don’t think it’s stupid to want to be loved, Malcolm.” He slides his hands over Malcolm’s shoulders. “I just think you’re the one doing all the compromising and he’s getting all the benefit.”

He brushes a thumb across the other’s cheek. “Stupid? No. But maybe a little desperate.” But he doesn’t say it like it’s a bad thing or like it’s something to pity; Klaus is just sad he feels that’s now it will be. How it has to be.