"Be careful, Ax." What else was he supposed to say? That he'd be thinking of him, because he would be? That he wished he would stay, because he did? That this wasn't fair or right and that he wanted to break the face of every man who'd ever dared to lay hands on his Axel? He said nothing of the like and just turned finally, so he could take the lift.

He walked into the flat, feeling like crying and trying to keep himself as composed as he could given the state he was in. "James? Are you home?"