It's a soft war, someone's gotta perish. It's probably gonna be both of them, realistically.

"I'm not taking it back," he says firmly. He meant what he said, he thinks it's amazing! But he can at least give Kai the mercy of not outright repeating it right away.

It not being normal for either of them isn't a huge surprise - if he's used to not being treated so well as a whole, it isn't too shocking to think he's not the only one. That would just be ridiculous, after all, but even then... Kai's never been anything besides patient and kind to him, to think that those particular traits aren't appreciated more widely is pretty sad to think about.

All he can really do about that right now is cherish those traits, he thinks. Hold them carefully for all they're worth.

"It felt really easy with you, though. Getting to know you and caring about you this much."

Not as rocky and painful as he'd have anticipated. Imagine.