It was strangely difficult to tear his gaze away from his double in the window, nor to dwell too much upon the now-absent touch at his back. He had the strong feeling by this point that to welcome Holmes back into his life, back into his old role, would be to abandon any pretence at self-respect he had ever had. What would it say about him if he was so easily coerced into returning to the way things were, after everything that had happened? At the same time, the urge to kiss him now, for the first time in what felt a lifetime, was very strong.

He wondered if he ought to suspect Holmes of trying to seduce him, and wondered if that was, in fact, redundant.

"Yes, I suppose so," he said, though he felt vulnerable at the very idea. "I have to say, though, the way I look now doesn't speak very highly for your sailor's taste in men."