You never gave yourself enough credit, Keith. Even back then.

[ It's hard to chastise someone when they're in your lap and your best friend, but that's not quite what he's going for, either. Instead, he's gentle about it; he doesn't flinch when Keith digs his fingers in, doesn't react past sighing quietly and lifting his hands to settle Keith's down first and rest his on top. ]

Of course I do.

[ How could he not? Flying the Kerberos mission, that was-- well, it was everything, back then, but this is something else. ]

But I have to - we all have to do what's necessary to keep moving forward. And I can make myself useful on the bridge.