Ganymede had been pressed against the wall, and as he listened and tried to process the words, he wanted to slide down the wall or shove away from Ash, but when he picked his head up and saw the look on Ashley's face he couldn't. He wanted this man too badly to leave, too badly to be anything but grasping for him for some little bit of stability.

"Ash, please," he murmured, "Please tell me you're not leaving. That you're not mad."