He didn't want to answer that question, but he still had his arms wrapped around his knees while holding his upper arms, so that his fingers were still over the wounds. He squeezed at his arms again, though not as tightly this time.

His breath was still shuddering here and there as he tried to remain calm, as he tried to not verbally lash out at Billy, telling him to go away. Maybe it wasn't so bad to allow his friends to comfort him. He just had to make sure to not use his powers any more, so his shadows couldn't take any more advantage of him- at least not any more than in the normal sense.

And Sam. Sam would help him get rid of them completely. And then he could be just like everyone else.