That shadow is weird. It's just a flicker, a something, and Mark's brows furrow just slightly. He's a patient person, though, so it doesn't bother him when Billy starts and stops his sentence. He's seen this sort of thing on Roger before--you just need to wait a bit, and then they'll eventually come out and say it.

Artists always need to phrase themselves carefully, and Billy isn't one but he's been living with one, practically. That's the same.

He doesn't have time to be patient--ironic, considering--because Billy's grabbing his neck and pulling him closer. His immediate reaction is to jerk away thanks to years of ridiculous bullying in high school, but he's met with a soft kiss and soft lips and it's over too quickly before Mark can really think.

When he Is able to, he makes a decision right then and there. He's not going to be passive, not with Billy--he can't afford to lose something like this. Maureen's the dominant, the assertive one, or was when they're dating. It's time for Mark to take a page out of her book.

He catches Billy's hand when he removes it from the back of Mark's neck, and wastes no time in leaning forward again, practically over the table, to kiss Billy properly.