It does. [ Ben thinks about just leaving it there, but instead, he says, voice quiet: ] It helps a lot, to hear it. I don't - know it every day, you know?

[ He glances up at Kieran, a small and slightly rueful smile at one corner of his mouth. It's hard, when he wants to be proud of the progress that he's made, admitting that he still has bad days. That this whole not hating himself thing is a work in progress, still. Ben wishes it were just a switch he could flip, a single choice he could make. ]

Thank you, Kieran.

[ In a burst of fondness he reaches over, taking Kieran's hand. His touch is careful, and he makes enough rustling noise as he moves so that Kieran will not be surprised. He's getting used to small measures like these. Then, in an impulsive moment of fondness, Ben brings Kieran's hand up to his mouth and plants a quick kiss to the back of it. It's an affectionate gesture, childish and noisy and, well, silly. Kieran brings out the silliness in Ben, at times. Makes him feel a little less like an old man before his time.

There is a distinctive POP as the bubble around them vanishes, the nanites ceasing to glow and flying off quickly to harass some other unsuspecting residents. ]

Wait, that's it? Seriously? That was all it took, this whole time?!