[ by the time graves kisses him again, credence has wound his arms around the older man's neck and he's standing on tiptoe to receive the affection, pressing up against his mouth insistently and carrying on with the kiss so that he doesn't have to answer for a moment.

but he knows he does, eventually. even so he buries his face in graves' shoulder briefly with a shake of his head before he finally speaks. ]

Almost since you started. Definitely since you treated me like a person instead of some annoying pet that needs looking after.

[ he's a little tense - that was some time ago. credence was... sixteen? then. no, not even. three weeks shy of sixteen the day graves became his companion and guard.

fifteen. no wonder he's a little embarrassed. it had just been a tiny puppy crush then of course, but it's blossomed into something more. ] Sorry.