"Why would I? You... needed it." Mark had needed the space to talk and feel and exist somewhere outside in the world just as much as Damien needed someone to fill up the space and the silence with him. Be in the car headed to god knew where. Give him directions when his phone stopped telling him where to go.

Damien was, it's true, a Grade-A, 1st Class fucking asshole to the highest order. He knows that about himself. He definitely knows that's how other people see him, regardless of anything else. But he was broken, too. He understood that need for someone else more than anyone.

The... guilt? Regret? is so strong suddenly. He could have had everything he'd wanted, and he fucking ruined it, probably beyond repair.