Hardison wasn't interested in any of this 'gently' nonsense. There was a bit of desperation there, built up over the number of times he'd nearly died over the last few days. He kissed back Eliot fiercely, ignoring that the intensity of the kiss made his split lip open up again.

"We're gonna make it through this," he said when he finally pulled back. "That--that ain't ever gonna be us."