[ if sandalphon's going to die, izumi is already gone. swimming with the fishes, probably. his face goes impossibly red, his grip on sandalphon's hand tightening as his poor brain processes all those sweet words he'd just said. how is he beautiful when he nagging his ear off and dragging him all over town while dodging rabid fans and paparazzi? ]

Y-You... You can't just say that...

[ his first instinct is to hide his flushed cheeks, so he pulls sandalphon in for a hug, hiding his face in his chest. he feels so warm, and even now he smells faintly of coffee, something that izumi's grown accustomed to over the months since knowing him. ]

I just... [ hold on, let him try to find the words. because izumi does want to hear more of that from him, but he isn't sure how his own heart would take it. ]

I'm glad... That you enjoyed yourself here. [ another pause as he takes a deep breath, steels himself. ] I don't want you to go just yet, so...

[ it's inevitable, once sandalphon finds a way back to the skies. so let him be selfish for just a little longer. ]