[ The truest answer to that question verges on the pathetic — he hasn't actually had anything that could feasibly count as a relationship — and for a second all Mace can do is shake his head. He'd be tempted to look away if it wasn't for the play of concern across Ian's features, mingling with something else that he can't quite place; more than confusion alone.

Nudges at Ian's brow with the tip of his nose thoughtfully instead, trying to smooth out that furrow and buy himself a little more time. Then, slowly: ]

Military brat. We moved around a lot. [ A shrug that seems to outline all the stuff he isn’t really saying: there wasn’t any time to form a bond that would last, so he hadn’t tried. ]

Then news broke out about the Sun dying. After that, there was no point. Not that I didn't want to, but … finding somebody just to leave 'em didn't sit right with me. Cassie was one night and a Plan-B, not a relationship.

[ A wry smile as he speaks, because he knows it might sound a little hypocritical, considering the situation they're in and the likelihood of how it's gonna end. But that's not quite the same as leaving; if he had the choice, he wouldn't. If he has the choice, he won't. ]

I am sweet on you, though. In case it wasn’t already obvious, what with the …

[ Breakneck speed at which they’d gone from Let's Home Alone a bunch of zombie doctors to I’m gonna kiss you in the shower and hold you close at night and I’ll fucking walk barefoot in the woods until I find you again —

But Mace waggles his eyebrows here instead, going for flirtatious instead of any further maudlin. And Ian had said right at the beginning that he didn't have anybody, but that didn't necessarily rule out the past, so. ]

How about you? Any suitors I need to fight off with a bat? You know I'm good for it.