Deception does not come easily to him. The Jack situation is not something he wanted, and he made that clear from day one. But he can't deny that he believed this is what would happen. Lucifer warned him, directly. At the time, he told him that part of his fear was that he would close himself off, and lose everything he built. He wanted to be himself, but not to get rid of this either. And now they're here and it is real. The warning became reality.

Istredd moves forward, into his space, blue eyes sharp. Those few inches between them can become obvious when hovering close like this. He looks him straight in the eye.

"If that was true, you wouldn't still want me. You wouldn't explain yourself. You wouldn't care about me at all. But you do. You will still always also be the person you became here. There is nothing you can do. Force the coldness, try to force yourself to stop, but it won't work."

He reaches out and cups his head in his hands, the bond flaring to life when he does, and he holds tightly to him. Lucifer can pull away, if he's cowardly enough, but Istredd stands firm. He believes every word he says. It's faith in the face of madness, but faith doesn't waver when it's backed up by a love that knows no equal.

"You've loved me since we made this bond. I know that because I felt it. You didn't know what those feelings meant, but I did." Istredd is a telepath. Nothing gets by him, not with Lucifer at the time being an open wound. "I don't want to lose who I love but you're still there."

The fear is intense but the hope is also. Lucifer's actions go against his words. And his other actions. It's complex. Istredd lets go of the bond, the gate sweeping open, and then it closes from the other side. Not gone, but slammed so none of his feelings overpower Lucifer. He waits. "Go ahead and get it over with if you have to. I'll haunt you to the end of your fucking days, Lucifer."