[ For a moment, with how often they've been wandering in and out of memories lately, hearing Mathis like this takes him to another moment. To someone else who wanted to live a moment longer with the ones they loved and experience friendship and love, and all the other things they hadn't gotten as someone... different.

He hadn't been able to reach out then, but thankfully Mathis is close enough for him to take his hand. ]

Okay. Then we'll do our best to make it happen.

[ But. ]

But, you're not a fake anything. You are what you are, and there's nothing wrong with that.