[ She chuckles with him, quiet and lackluster, but the smile she gives is truthful at least. ]

At least you understand, then.

[ And that is what ties it all together; Cullen understands like no one else does what it means to hurt so deeply and to be unable to show it. Neria lets go of his one hand but never the other, as if incapable of doing so. There is still comfort to be had and a sense of security she didn't have before. He hasn't let go either, not even when she had yelled. She glances away for a quick moment, then turns back to him. Her hand tightens over his. ]

It was...harder, years ago, when I first tried doing this.

[ 'This' being 'saving the world'. ]

You're there with the same people every single day. You're practically sleeping on top of one another, the same few people. I felt like I couldn't fall apart. They kept me held together.

[ She was just too frightened to let her insecurities out, and when things came to a head, she made terrible decisions for it. ]

I think I'd feel better today if I'd let myself go every now and again. Does that sound silly?