[He chuckles a little again, and the sound cuts off partway through in favor of him folding his chin into his collarbone. He exhales, curling his fingers into hers a little tighter, and then sits more upright again, taking a careful breath.]

I'm really bad at talking to people when it isn't about them, and you don't like talking about yourself anymore than I do. [He's not okay and he knows it, and he's pretty sure she knows it, but if he addresses it he's gonna crumble like a shitty little sandcastle at high tide and he can't do that. He can't.] The same goes for you, though. And I do appreciate it. [If he ever has the presence of mind to reach out before it's unnavigable, it's nice to know she'd understand better than most.]