He stifles a laugh in his throat that sounds more like a choking cough. It's like when he was a little kid playing at being Hero, shouting All Might's lines and running around with playground sand in his shoes.

"You're only a few months older than 'young Izuku-kun.'"

He pokes Paul's thigh, which will teach him to tease while seeking touch. His face is then muffled by a slim angelic hand. He's going to demur, mutter something about being too busy trying to get Kaworu to eat vegetables to defeat him, and who ever heard of a villain being defeated by eating healthy anyway? Instead, the more he speaks, the more his own words shock him:

"Because I never know how much you want me to 'defeat' you. I never know if I will scare you or remind you of being mistreated each time you ask me to push you against a wall or whatever. I want you to be happy and safe. I love you."

He falls silent and clutches Kaworu's hand. It all just spilled out of him. He's only known himself to say things without thinking about their effect on others when he's muttering over his notes. His heart beats faster in a panic against Kaworu's shoulder, and his side tenses under Paul's hand. Why did I say all that?