[ He can sense it all building up in Kurt, listening with regret to the increasingly rapid beat of his heart, smelling the adrenaline building under his fur. He doesn't like it, doesn't like upsetting him like this, but he likes lying to him even less. He's done far too much of that over the years and resolved, after losing him once, that he'd not do it again.

Reaching up instinctively, he tangles his blunt fingers into Kurt's touch, seeking that gentle comfort even as he tells himself he's not worth the sorrow in those golden eyes.

It helps, though, beyond what he expected, to hear it put like that. It eases something inside him he didn't realise was hurting until it stopped. He lets out a breath, his jaw working as he studies the table. ]

I dunno, Elf. If it was like that, if there wasn't somethin' in me that.. that's used to this -- [ His frown deepens, his free hand balling into a fist. ] I've spent longer in worse places and fought every minute tryin' to get out. I let them stop me.