[This has been simultaneously the most humiliating and most enlightening experience he's had in a while. He can't even say something like, at least the feeling is mutual, because somehow hearing all of this from Scaramouche just adds to his own embarrassment. Secondhand shame, perhaps?]

Well, I wouldn't be opposed either. Almost everyone I've been with treats me like I'm made of glass, and you wouldn't.

And-- besides-- I don't want to hate you.

[Now it's firsthand shame.]