[The little touch is so small, so tentative. It matches Cliff's words, both fragile and yet easy to hold. Both mean everything, a balm on his heart.

He smiles the smallest of smiles.]

I think I'll still be... a little careful. I want you to feel safe.

[How rare that feeling could be. He knows it will take work. But this is, in a sense, what they're doing.]

But I'm... very glad to hear that. You're a good kid in your own right, you know? Not just because of a shared tie to Coco. Naturally, I trust you too.

[It had always been easy, in a way. The relationship itself perhaps was rocky, but he didn't doubt Cliff once-- only when he wasn't sure if Cliff truly was himself. Cliff knew him in ways most people didn't. He'd never worried about that.]

...Nekane learned those hard lessons earlier than I did, relatively. They're not so quick to trust, much quicker to act. That extends to me. But, while they'd rather chew glass than admit it, they're still that angel at heart. They see good in people. And they'll see you're good too.

I can't make them apologize and the choice is still yours to forgive, if ever. But as far as I'm concerned, you're still, and always, welcome. In the family, in my home, or just around.