[ Garrus' touch feels like goodbye. Noh-Varr allows himself a final act of pure selfishness, and leans into it before the talons retreat from his cheek.

The words fall like a hammer, like a judge's gavel, like a physical weight dropping between his shoulders. They should make his heart swell, they should delight him and sharpen the sunlight, make the air fragrant. All they do is make him quail.

The demanding, self-centered part of him wants to reach forward, cup Garrus' face, tell him to stay. The rest of him knows he should have ended this on Selena. Their wants weren't compatible from the start, but he'd been selfish and made Garrus bend and fold until he could tuck the turian's happiness into his pocket and forget about it. He thought he could have everything. Too good to be true. ]

You're right. It's for the best this way.

[ He feels hollow saying it. By all rights, he should be happy to slough the weight. But just because he doesn't love Garrus doesn't mean he doesn't care for the turian. Likes having him in his life. Wants him close, safe and happy. ]

I... [ He starts, stops, trails off. What can he say? There's nothing. He shouldn't even want to save this. What does Garrus event want him to say to that? To apologize? Garrus himself admitted that he knew Noh-Varr wasn't interested. He'd been upfront from the start about his expectations. But Garrus had kept pushing for more, and--there's no point, now.

He turns to leave. ]

I'll leave you the rest of your evening. Sleep well when you do, Garrus.

[ No offer of friendship, no safety net. Time might do them good, or it might not. ]