He kisses her head when she lays it against his shoulder, the weight of it familiar and entirely welcome. Resting is tolerable when it's the two of them like this - but he can hardly expect her to entertain him every hour of the day.

For now, though, it goes a long way toward soothing his petty irritation. How can he feel anything but fortunate when the most beautiful woman in the world is leaning against him? She settles in close and he gives one of her hands a squeeze, before setting it over his heartbeat.

"I'm not determined to be a grump," he replies, and the words are amused, not defensive. "But when I step back and look at myself...I'm not always sure I like what I see."

It's not a confession he expects will be surprising; they, and all their friends, have done things they aren't proud of, in the twisting paths that have brought them to the present moment. Admitting it isn't easy, though. His sense of pride is at times defensive, a set of armor he puts on against the world.

"When you look at me," he says quietly, playing idly with the end of her braid, "what do you see? Or - no, I can guess that, and it's entirely too complimentary." He's teasing, mostly. "What do you think I should see, Vex?"