[There is a twinge of something like regret in him, for practically forcing Dimitri to do this, but... no. Dimitri himself was a force, especially now. There was no way he could make him do anything.

If he really was forcing him to do this, it would have only pushed him away.

Possibly for good, this time.

So that thought allows him to push away that guilt and just... listen to Dimitri. To look up into his eye when he tilts his head up, to simply... relax and let all the tenseness that wound up in him through the whole exchange melt away.]

...I'll try. It still feels strange, asking anything of you, but I know I can be patient.

[To a fault, sometimes, if this entire exchange was anything to go by.]

And I can't say I won't, but I will take solace in your words.

[It's... better than nothing, at least, he has to hope.]