“But this isn’t a what if,” said Arthur. “This is me, right now, tonight, saying if you need help, I am here for you.”

“I know, I just—” Rory made a face. “You got your own money, you wouldn’t understand. You’re untouchable.”

“Untouchable.” Arthur reached out and stroked the side of Rory’s face. “You could go to any reporter in this city and have me ruined in a single sentence.”

Rory’s eyes widened.

“You could ruin me, ruin my family, and my friends—”

“I would never—” Rory started.

“You would never,” Arthur agreed. “Your magic in my aura would never hurt me, and you would never hurt me. But you don’t think you’re safe with me too.”

“I—” Rory’s throat had grown thick. “I do, I am, I just don’t—I just don’t want to be a burden.”

“You’re never a burden,” said Arthur, with feeling. “You make me happy.”

Rory’s protests died on his tongue.

Arthur ran his fingers down the bridge of Rory’s nose where his glasses had been. “I’m sorry you lost Mrs. Brodigan.”

Rory swallowed. “It’s okay—”

“I know. I know you’re genuinely glad for her. But I also know you lost your mother, and your father was terrible, and you’ve been left behind and abandoned too many times. It leaves scars, and if it means you can’t ever trust anyone, I’ll understand. Even if it’s me. Especially if it’s me, because I just left you too, and so I wasn’t here when you needed me.”

“That’s not fair to you,” Rory said thickly. “I had your postcards. I had your key. You did more than you had to for me, you always do.”

“I give a fraction of what I wish to and you still won’t take it. Your pain goes too deep.” Arthur touched Rory’s lips. “I don’t want to be one more person who leaves you.”

Rory’s chest clenched.

“Knowing what I know about magic, I feel responsible to the world to protect it,” Arthur said. “But I came back to New York to find the man who owns my heart in misery. If I go again, you’ll be hurt and vulnerable, and you’ll choose the suffering you think you’ve earned over the help you don’t think you deserve, and Teddy, I don’t know how to handle this heartbreak.”

Rory opened his mouth, then closed it. He shouldn’t be hearing this; Arthur was still half drunk and spilling words he might not have said otherwise. But was this really how he felt?

You’re never a burden. You make me happy.