[ Something in him relaxes again at that, and at the sight of that smile from Claude. He’s gotten pretty good at reading each one. What they mean, or as close to it as he can get.

That one? It’s one of his favorites.

He lets his head fall forward to rest against Claude’s their noses brushing together as he rests there. ]

Well, it was all part of one big surprise, technically. I’m glad you liked it, though. And that dinner wasn’t actually terrible. [ He adds this last part with a laugh, as if joking about it now might cancel out the momentary vulnerability in the previous question. ]