[that pause is long, the way stahn has his lips pursed and he scratches at his head through disheveled hair while he tries to gather his thought about the situation.]

I wouldn't have decided to stay here if I wasn't serious.

[he's starting off pretty strong. but looking at leon's flustered face and hearing that strangled, struggling tone of voice repeating in his mind... well, it kind of flusters stahn a bit too.

he's never done this, after all.]

So, I— [what is the word they use here? boyfriend? dating?

it feels kind of weird to him to refer to leon in those terms, because leon is so much more to him than that.]

I don't know what to call it, if we're honest. You're... my best friend, Leon. [his head dips a little... it's probably way too early for this conversation, especially after everything that's happened in the last day or so.

—though maybe that's why it needs to be said. just as a safety. just as assurance.]

I, I really like ["love"] you a lot though so. I don't know what you want to call that. Eheh... but... whatever it is, I want to stay that way.

[stahn's face is red, but his dipped head hides that. what it doesn't hide is the way his hair has shifted, revealing how red-hot the tips of his ears are.]