Has he ever been seen like this before? By another person, that is. Ziggy saw him, sure, because he could never escape its gaze. But his family, his friends... He knew how to hide from them, or drive them away, or let any love they felt atrophy from his own neglect.

That was Jeff back home: the rock star, the diva, the narcissistic junkie who couldn't give a shit about anyone but himself. It was a good, dependable mask, really. He'd drive away the ones who cared enough to look past it, and then it was just him and Ziggy.

Malcolm cuts right through all his dishonesty, and it takes the wind out of his sails. Jeff won't outright confirm the truth, but he may as well when he asks, his voice going a bit small: "Would that really be so bad?"