Ke's shoulders slumped forward, letting out a long breath as if he hadn't let himself breathe for several minutes. And indeed - it took him that look to gather himself up to reply. His eyes were wet, and silently, he raised the heel of his palm to his eyes and rubbed the moisture away, taking a shaking breath.

"... Thank you." The words were extremely quiet, and it was a long time before he offered any more of them.

"... I'm glad he-- I'd thought for certain that he was... avoiding--" The words weren't coming out right. "I wish he had - I wish I had known, before, but I know why he didn't. But I'm glad that he has you, anyway."