[ she breathes out her frustration. that apology seeming to understand and even preempt her discomfort with having to muck through the unpleasant memories, even when she had deferred talking about it.

she feels better for it. they both do, probably. but that doesn't mean that she knows how to invite it. that she won't rally some defensive response instinctively the moment he knocks around where she's told him not to go.

still. he's taken the wind out of those sails. it wouldn't do any good to be sour about it, now, so she just tries her best to lean into the levity, to draw back out of that dark. ]

If you did it again tonight, I'd have no complaints. [ a beat. ] Well. Maybe a lack of sleep, when we both could use the rest. [ she brings her hands to his face, cradling. ] It's one of the better ways I've woken up, even on its own. So please, by all means.