Phillip would likely say it more, if Gustavain did, but he’s still the more likely of the two of them to. Passing comments, mostly, when they part in the mornings or when half asleep, cuddled up in bed. There was a time where to say it and not hear it returned would have made him anxious, prone to withdrawing, but… he knows, now, even if it stays unsaid.

He did know they were going to have to address this, and maybe it’s easier to do it like this rather than say it. It’s easy to manipulate him by his hair, turn his face upwards into that kiss. There’s something a little different about him too; the softer parts that Gustavain knows exist but rarely pull from him, and… something else.

His hands glide over the new scars, feeling them under his fingertips but barely looking, focused instead on his lover’s face. He nods, and rises, pulling enough away to at least begin discarding his clothes in the short distance to the bed, though when he gets there he reaches out instead to pull Gustavain with him.