[Mephisto's fingers tighten against Stephen's shoulders. It's enough to be painful, even if he doesn't realize it. Something awful rips through him. Something painful, worse than the chemicals and glass that had maimed him. Close, perhaps equal (though not the same as) to what he felt as Riley fell.]

No. Without you -- [His throat tightens. He could stop here. He could take a step back from this one weakness.]

One day the earth will open wide
And I'll follow you inside
Cause the only hell I know is without you

[He breathes -- ragged, dangerously close to trembling.]

The people here. They are the only ties I have to whatever fragile humanity I have found. I would rather die than know what it feels like to lose it.