[Steve stroked Shion's hair, happy to keep the boy close as long as he allowed. It felt good to have him close. He couldn't think of anything that would help him feel better at the moment than to help Shion feel a little less guilty and comforted.]


I did things I regret with and to other people, and I was injured plenty more than a little stab. But I'm alright. I'm used to living with guilt and at least I didn't damage anyone else irreparably. There's always that, thank god. I was . . . I was really dangerous.


[Steve was a menace and a monster when he gave in to the blood. And he'd reveled in it. He was ashamed of that, but there would always be a part of him that remembered his actions with fondness. He hated that part of him.]