No. [His voice is soft, yet his tone is still firm. He wouldn't lie to Sorey. Not about this. And really, Dezel isn't the type to flat out lie; he'd rather just be blunt or not say anything at all.] No, you're not.

[He gently takes Sorey's hands in his, warm despite the cold air around them.]

I just... [It isn't about the pain he'll eventually feel when Sorey passes. Rose and the others prepared him for that, at least. It isn't about humans and seraphim, or ages, or anything like that.] I don't want to take advantage of you. Because you just woke up, and... you're still grieving. Adjusting. [He can think of at least one person Sorey should be with instead, but the thing about seraphim is they understand life is transient; he's not going to be jealous of someone who was there all along.]

I don't want to force you into anything.