[He bats away Axel's hand before it makes contact.....and jabs him in the side. It wasn't a consciously planned move, though it may come as a familiar one to Axel. It's....strange, really: being able to reminisce without the bitterness that had once seemed part and parcel to it. Strange, but welcome.]
[Being in the presence of two who knew him better than most--and being reminded that they liked him in spite of it--was probably why he'd come in the first place. He hadn't realized it before, but it makes sense.]