As crazy as is was, the next thing to come from Lyle was a tight, raspy laugh, one that sat in his throat because there wasn't enough strength to push it past his lips. His grip on Nico tightened just a little more, chin nuzzling on the other man's head. "Think," he whispered, "s'first time I haven't had t'fight t'hear that." He knew that Nico was reluctant, hesitant, but he had said it. It hadn't taken months of sacrifice, jumping through hoops to prove himself, saying it and never hearing it back. It had just happened, in a right moment, and to him it was kinda funny. It was the wrong person, wrong gender, wrong time, wrong everything, but it was all coming out right.