Adrien stood up; he felt the greatest longing to hold Val tight - to comfort him and take care of him, to let him cry onto his shoulder; and, for the first time, he felt that he was able to give him happiness, that he could give him the kind of love he deserved in his life. This was the shape of the trust that bound them; Val was willing to give him the dagger with which to slay him - trusting that he would not use it; trusting him so - and Adrien took his words with both hands, swore into his heart that he would hold his name as a treasure - that he would be deserving of such a gift. The wish was now screaming inside him - that he could be at his side to protect him always. For him, he wanted nothing but the best - nothing but the greatest happiness. He wished he could be the one to bring it to him; and perhaps he already was - perhaps he already was, after all; he knew that Val was glad to be at his side - he knew he cherished he bond they had. But Adrien's wish was for their bond to take a different shape - one which it could not, could never take; and he would not dare to let him know. In his mind, nothing good could come out of letting him know - it would only ruin everything; he imagined Val nodding and telling him that he could not reciprocate - he was immortal, eternal; too divine for such a mundane wish. And then he imagined their last few months spent in awkwardness and regret, their bond broken forever... Adrien knew all of this, and yet his wish would not die - he hated himself for not being satisfied with what they already shared. What was his pathetic fantasy worth against the strength their bond already had? Was it not already love that bound them? Why did it matter so much if this love came in a different aspect than the one he wished for? But, as much as he loathed to admit it to himself, it did matter to him. He could not lie to his own wishes.