Mark looked down at him playfully, tilting his head. "So... hope I am finally forgiven?"
Charles smirked, wiping the last of his tears away. "You'll have to earn it, because you really hurt me."
"How do I earn it?" Mark asked.
Charles looked at Mark sincerely, his playfulness fading into a deep seriousness. "I don't know what words will finally make you understand this. I don't know how to say it so it truly sinks in. But the truth is... your words really, really hurt me, Mark."
His voice trembled slightly. "If I weren't completely and utterly in love with you, I wouldn't even be standing in this room right now. I wouldn't be here, giving you chances, asking you to earn me."
He paused, searching Mark's eyes. "Maybe if I told you that you just need to keep apologizing, you would, I know you would. You'd apologize a thousand times if I asked. But that's not what I mean. That's not what I need."
