From the first touch of Serph's hands on his, John blinks up at him, eyes gone wide and bright. His fingers tense and hesitate, then relax into Serph's grip.

He still thinks of himself, even now, as Arthur's left hand. He has possession of all the rest, yes, but he does not have claim to it— not without Arthur here to work alongside him in thrilling moments of symbiosis. The hand has felt... earned, in a sense, since he let Arthur take the joint between his teeth. That pain was his. That blood was his.

This pleasure is his. Serph's gentle thumbs smoothing over his knuckles, the warmth of Serph's palms against his own.

"Yes." His voice comes soft and low. "We can try to become better versions of ourselves. That's what makes us human."