"You know that might be better than the alternative." He hasn't said it out loud and he still isn't, but he knows Neil must be able to feel what he means in the most visceral way possible. Neil has laid out the consequences, his leaving, but they both know it probably wouldn't stop at that. He wouldn't be able to just walk away.

He takes a breath; he can already feel it, the potential of it, and he drops the pants; he doesn't need them now anyway. He laughs softly, his head tipped back. It's not his throat, but he can feel the same kind of thing stealing over him, like his ribcage is opening under Neil's hand. "You knew what you were getting into."