"It's understandable," Steven says sympathetically. "I mean, I hate the man--yes, even now after we've signed our treaty--but if I were in your position, I'd definitely want to be with the person that the memories making up me told me was my best friend and lover."

He comes back and starts unwrapping the paper from the butter, the better to transfer it to the mixing bowl for creaming.

"And yeah," he adds. "I am. I-- really love Jack, you know? He's the first man to-- really understand about me to any significant degree. And sometimes we still don't get each other, even now--but there's so much he does get. With him I feel seen, you know? Seen as me. And-- I mean, sex and love aren't the same thing, but I do love him and he is a pretty jealous guy, so." He shrugs, shaking the butter stick loose from the paper above his bowl. "My parents would probably be pleased I'm in a monogamous long term relationship if they knew, if it weren't for the fact that Jack's closer to their age than mine."