[The sigh of relief that he breathes is, strictly speaking, unnecessary. It doesn't feel that way, though; instead, it feels like the weight that leaves him in the moment needed to leave him, so he could hold the Boss like this, one hand on the back of his head.]

Of course I'm not, Boss.

[He doesn't mind saying it again. He'll say it as many times as he needs to, until the Boss can feel safe again.]

Um... I know how you feel about the past, [he thinks he does, anyway; ignorance doesn't make a lie] but - all those versions of yourself... the ones I remember, anyway... They've all meant the same to me. So... I dunno. Maybe you shouldn't be so hard on them?

[...]

I wish I were as good with words as you are, Boss. That sounded so stupid.