[Julius lets out a breath he hadn't been conscious of holding. It's the realization that until this very moment, he hasn't been sure Marcus would want to try. It's a not insignificant amount of trouble, navigating two people at once, especially two people with years of intimacy already behind them. He can think of many reasons that have nothing to do with attraction or affection why someone might say no. But he'd wanted Marcus to want this, all the same.

He doesn't rush them, giving Petrana's hand a small squeeze in the interim. When they part, he says quietly,]

I had a conversation with Silver in that one. I was shocked you hadn't come back with her, and I had a lot of very logical reasons in the moment but I think it was mostly ... it felt wrong, there. That you weren't with us.

[And now this. Here.]