( Wen Kexing pulls himself from Lan Xichen's grip, covers his face with both of his hands, fingers clenched. He doesn't claw at the skin, doesn't dig his grip in, no matter what the maelstrom in his veins would like. Instead he just breathes behind the cage of them, ragged and uneven. )

You wouldn't. You turn all your hurt inward.

( He makes a miserable noise, a choke of sound, palm flattening so he can scrub at his eyes. )

You shouldn't want to be around me. I'm telling you that I'm the villain in my story and you still sit there trying to make me feel better. Surely that should show you I'm not as kind as you.