It seemed completely unreasonable that the likes of him would bond in a time like this when he was used up and broken. He had read a few books just to introduce himself back into the realities of the world in which he was trying to integrate and soul bonding was such a celebrated moment, deeper and more personal than marriage. Not all soul bonds were lovers either; he had heard that they were deep friends who managed separate lives and came together frequently with their other half. He couldn't imagine being just friends anymore with Steve, not after he had given himself up as he had. Of course, why would Steve want him after all he had been through? The blond had been through so much already and now piled on top was him with a broken soul and everything else.

He looked up at Steve, leaning in so he could study the other man's expression as his fingers slid to the sides of Steve's body and explored their way over thick muscle and ribs. There was pain inside of him, he realized, but it wasn't his pain. It was illusionary pain that was clearly coming from Steve, and that was interesting to consider. "So we had to break in order to be compatible?" Whatever set up such designations had a very sick sense of humour.