[Almost protests, but then just kind of... slumps with a small nod, shifting so he can rest his forehead to his shoulder, holding him tighter still]
Alright. [He can admit to himself that he needs it, at least.] [Sighs]
I just... I didn't think I'd be that afraid. You know me. I always-- I always liked soldiering. ['he can never leave it' etc etc] But I just ended up afraid. Afraid of it never ending. Of getting killed. Of dying alone, with nobody left to care I was gone. That it'd just be another senseless death with all the others.