What panacea, that tenderness, that kindness from someone he loves, wholly and entirely loves. He's helpless against the way it opens up his chest to make him weep harder. Radar must know how much he cares for him.

"I'm sorry--" he says between gasps, but it's not so stricken anymore. There's something missing, like dust swept away. He weeps, weeps, weeps, legs shaking with the effort of keeping him upright when all he wants to do is sink to the ground. But he won't drag Radar with him; but he doesn't want to let go.

But the well dries. He sniffs, scrubs at his eyes. The first moment he can gather himself enough to, he speaks. "I'm sorry for scaring you. It's--it's alright. Really. I... I'm not sure how to explain."

He takes his glasses off to clean them. "After a long time of not being allowed to express myself at all, it feels... well, I felt as though I could with you."