It must be difficult, all those thoughts around him, inevitably just swarming through the air like flies, and Marcus doesn't know how Dan does it, how he keeps himself sane and grounded with all that noise going on around him, but if there's something he can do to help, he's not going to refuse. Besides, it isn't as if touching Dan is any sort of hardship.

Under the table, almost shy in his movements, Marcus reaches to take Dan's hand. He threads their fingers together slowly, the act somehow more intimate that he had anticipated, then rests the back of his hand on top of Dan's thigh. They're just holding hands, he's done as much with others, but it still feels different than it ever has before. Electric.

"Happy to help," he says softly, still leaning in toward Dan, ostensibly so he can be heard, but realistically because he simply likes being near him.