...well, I think the circumstances of us actually bringing it up were not ideal. I wanted to tell you eventually if only so you didn't find out from someone else, but I kept... running away from it. I was worried you would, and...

[...he very nearly flinches, but instead, he turns his hand over so he can take Colress's hand in his own.]

...honestly, I've spent a lot of time avoiding getting close to others because I was worried it'd hold me back somehow, or maybe that I'd end up hurting them in the end, or they'd hate me... or all of those, honestly. I'm... still afraid of that, I'll admit, but... you at least understand now.