[ credence doesn't startle at graves' approach - he just looks at him in the mirror, eyes following his every movement. he's quiet, leaning back into his grasp and closing his eyes just for a brief moment before he opens them again, meeting his gaze. ] I love you.

[ that's all he says for a moment before he's shifting, gently lifting an arm to cradle graves' jaw after he stretches out his neck for that kiss. ] Mm. Only because I let you have me.

[ he's not being contrary in the least - it's clear he's using it as a means of asserting that he's a person, that he has agency, that graves knows how to treat him right, would never do anything he didn't want to, would let him walk away if he wanted - and that's why he doesn't want to. because graves remembers that he's a person and not a plaything.

he manages a tiny smile, some of the tension draining from him. ] I don't want to think about him any more. I just want to think of you. Remind me. Just—gently. I feel like I could shatter, tonight.