His mind is a complete blank. He cannot see anything but Lan Zhan's eyes, can feel nothing but their hands twined together, sparking bright as a golden core. The words he has tried to choke down all night sense their chance, bolt up his throat, almost make it to the tip of his tongue --

He swallows them down again.

If it was not the time before, it is absolutely not the time now.

"I am here, Lan Zhan," he repeats instead, hardly above a whisper either.