There are things he can answer later - why he steals Koby's toothpaste, his favorite color, anything the other wants to know, but there's something about the nerves and hesitance that makes his stomach churn. Maybe he's having second thoughts - which he wouldn't question. He wouldn't bat an eye.

But then -

"Assume what?"

He tilts his head, brow dipping a little bit as Koby continues to explain, working through how and what to talk about and suddenly it clicks. Quentin's eyes widen a little bit and he huffs a little laugh, reaching up to cradle the other's face between his palms, soothed as well by the way Koby's fingers play around his piercing familiar and warm.

"I love you," he says quietly, where only they can hear, wanting this moment to be intimate and for them, even among the business of the pool. "My true north, my Captain. I'm your first mate, remember? It's your dock I'll wait on until you come home, and at the end of the day there will be us, no matter the rest."

He looks into Koby's nervous face and he can feel the inkling of doubt welling in the pit of his own stomach - the same hesitance from earlier when he'd seen the band around Koby's wrist. "If you want that, only if you want that. I don't know what it's called here, what titles and things they give to two people like you and I. But I want you to be mine, I want to be yours. There will be other seas we dally in, and other people but - if you -"

And there it is - the hint of nerves now, the confident bravado slipping, his fingers curling against Koby's skin.

"I didn't mean to make it complicated or... or make you worry. I'm sorry. I truly am. You can wear whatever bracelet you like - whatever is... is true to how you're feeling. That's the point, isn't it?"

A small smile. And there's no confession about the two purple bands he's hidden in his towel at his spot.