Martin just sputters gently. "It-- well, i-it's not like you've-- you haven't said anything yet, I d-didn't think you-- that you, um, liked me back. um--"

(If Coraline could just stop giggling at any point that would be grand.)

He takes a deep breath that makes his entire form straighten up, scrunches his face shut for a moment, and his next few words are very hasty. "I love you too but that doesn't just-- absolve you of treating me the way you have been. You can't-- if you, uh-- l-love me, i-if you trust me, you can't not tell me things, now. Even if they're..." He releases the remainder of his fluster in a long, sharp exhale, and he's still red but now there's a little bit of that dungeon's worth of exhaustion leaking through. "Bad. Or. Or painful."

He takes a moment to look at the portals on either side of them. "I don't really think we have the luxury for that, if it's just...us."

Us, from the Institute. No Tim, or Basira or Melanie, just the two of them; and he's glad his face can't get any hotter thinking that.