[So Wash definitely can tell he can hear again. His hand clenches against the back of Wash's neck, keeps his eyes closed. Because there's so much he didn't get to tell him over the years.]

To stop being a fucking baby and tell me how he felt. [He inhales sharply, a hiss through his teeth because - that's really the important thing. Tucker would never openly admit he loved the guy (because he was a program, he always was, Tucker knew and didn't risk saying it out loud), but Church was still... Church.] That I knew, the whole time what he was. It didn't-- [And his voice goes tired. Loses the sharp edge and softens into exhaustion.] It didn't matter to me.

...I just wanted him to trust me.