Re: <3!
Jayden teared up at that, but he rushed to wipe at his eyes, hoping no one noticed. He wasn't very subtle, however, and everyone noticed. "I've had worse," Jayden admitted, though he had never had a head injury so severe before. He had beatings which hurt more. "A lot worse a lot of times."
JJ returned from the kitchen, steaming mug of tea in hand, just in time to hear that. She clicked her tongue and went to sit on the other side of him, plopping the mug in front of him for whenever he was ready. "You never should have had to go through that," JJ said, reaching up to rub Jayden's back.
"I did though," Jayden responded. "I think- I haven't hurt since I came here. And then- All of a sudden I hurt again and I panicked." It was a cop out, of course. There were so many more and deeper issues, but that was certainly one of them and it's the only one he planned on saying out loud.