"It is," Steven admits, taking his hands away and sitting back, still facing Jack. "God. It really is."

His face is warm. God, he feels so exposed. He can't take off the mask, the mask is his flesh now, but everything else... it's all on display. Everything inside him. Jack can see what kind of person he is and God--

He understands.

(Jack always understands.)

He reaches out, suddenly, to gently stroke Jack's ruined cheek.

"Have you ever killed someone that way?" he asks before he can stop himself. "Not in bed, necessarily. Just. You know. Strangling in general."