I know that if I wasn't holding him up, now, he'd sink into the water and probably fuckin' drown. He's completely boneless, a heavy weight against my chest, slipped right into that space somewhere beyond consciousness.

"Okay, okay," I murmur soothingly, my free hand moving over his skin, almost mindlessly petting whatever part of him I can reach, while the other keeps its tight hold on his throat. I bite down harder, opening the wound that someone else put there-- someone who didn't fucking deserve privilege.