"Where should I start?" Glory asked. Hopefully, that would tell her what he was relatively comfortable talking about...

Léan frowned. "...I...maybe...with what you are most comfortable with talking about. I will be more comfortable if you are comfortable, as well..."

"Well..." Glory turned over a few topics in her head, trying to pick one. "You finally returned one of my hugs, after an entire summer."

"I...I'm not used to hugs, or anything like them, so...things will take time for me," Léan informed her, nodding. "I feel better about it, now..."

"Well, it's not like we're short on time, so it's not a big deal," Glory said.

"That's true..." Léan mused, quietly. He looked to be deep in thought, but definitely ready to talk some more.

"What have you been thinking so much about?" Glory asked. Maybe this time he would actually answer her...

Léan cleared his throat, preventing himself from clamming up once more. "...It isn't obvious?" he asked, dreading her response.

"Humor me," Glory replied. Yeah, by now it was kind of obvious, but Glory had learned not to just assume such things.

Léan's heart sank--he still had no idea how to approach it without reaching his 'clam' state again. "..."

Glory could see him starting to clam up again and had to think quickly.

"Alright, let's start small," she said. "What were you just thinking about when you dazed out like you did?"

Léan cleared his throat again. "What my issue is...I was thinking about that..."

"I'm listening," Glory said. She grinned. "For someone without feet, you do a wonderful job of dancing around the subject," she teased.

"I...was thinking about...that..." Léan hung his head, miserably. "What my issue is...what Arcturus probably hinted at...heavily..."

Sighing, Glory leaned over and hugged him.

"Just say it already," she said.

Léan had to pause again before returning the hug. "...I can't..." he admitted, quietly. It seemed that if she wanted to know what was bothering him, she would have to go on what she had and take a wild stab at it. Léan's zero-confidence manner was at its peak...

"But you're half-way there already," Glory pointed out softly.

"And it's a miracle I've gotten this far..." Léan mumbled. "I wouldn't have gotten nearly this far, normally..."

"I can't give you a reply if you don't say anything," Glory said, cuddling into the hug a bit.

Léan sighed, quietly. "...I don't...know what to say..." He frowned.

"Just try," Glory encouraged. When he didn't say anything, she added softly, "If it helps any... I like you too."

Léan nodded, going a bit pinker, and then lowered his head. "I really, really don't know what to say...but I share your feelings..." he muttered, not moving a muscle.

"You look ashamed," Glory said softly. "What are you ashamed about? Maybe this is enough for today..."

"I'm partially ashamed because I can't bring myself to talk about it...I'm a coward," Léan sighed. "I don't even know what my problem is anymore..."

"Just take your time, then," Glory said. "There's nothing wrong with that."