[ One day maybe he'll realize when he teases him... .... maybe.

For now, Allen's thoroughly baffled though the moment that he says he needs to sit up. It catches him a little uncharacteristically off balance, though he scrambles a bit to oblige him and follows the direction of that arm around his waist. And he doesn't get it at first when Shouto presents him with both palms, blinking again -- until he explains.

Then his expression falls. Not in dismay, but in realization and it becomes so very gentle. So very fragile. Oh.

Well now he feels like a heel. ]

Shouto...

[ Carefully, he reaches out to take his hands. So he can bend to kiss them very softly, first one palm-- ]

... I was trying to encourage you and say "now it's your turn to touch me too..." [ a kiss to the other palm ] ...but I think I went about it all wrong.

[ He pauses then, nuzzling against his hands faintly as he turns the sentiment over in his mind. The conflict from the guilt he has over that still with the overwhelming sweetness of that sentiment leaving his stomach in a small knot. ]

I'm sorry, I know how you feel.

[ Though the degree to which, it keeps catching him offguard and stunning him. ]