[he's not expecting much of anything, because he knows talking is hard. he hates talking. they have processed so little between them, despite how much they've come to understand it all and understand each other. he watches her wriggle around and listens when she opens up, carefully and quietly, and his heart hurts. not because it worries him, but because of their lives. the galaxy crushed down their emotions into the dirt, and neither of them know how to grow it back.]

I don't know how either. [something in him deflates a little when he admits it.] I have always assumed I could not be happy. That I did not deserve it.

[jim told him to tell her how he feels, but there are a lot of feelings he's still sorting through. things he doesn't know how to describe. things he shut off that are leaking out. he can't tell her if he's not sure what they are.]

All of this is... unfamiliar to me too. I just know you do make me happy. That seems like step one.