[ credence watches graves for a moment, trying to gauge what's happening and why - but when graves speaks credence exhales a shaky breath, looking at him and trying to not appear too startled or hopeful either one. ]

I--I didn't know you were there. I'm sorry, he tries it every so often but I always say no. [ he's flushed slightly, though he's tentatively moving around the kitchen island so that he can be closer to him, studying his face up close for the first time in ages.

finally, he speaks again. ] But you know that now, don't you? That I tell him no. If you heard what I said, I mean. [ he wants his trust, his faithfulness, to mean something. he's pushing slightly to see what graves will pull out of it, what he will say.

he's close, maybe too close, but he can't help it. he's always been like a flower toward the sun with graves.

(something in his eyes begs please.) ]

I tell him no because there's no one else I want but you.