He froze, when touched, but after everything- it was hard not to crack, feel himself threaten to shatter under the strain. For the moment, he leaned in as carefully as he dared, but this- he'd known it was irrational, known the fear was baseless, the poisonous thought that he'd be rejected, here- and here it was, being simply brushed aside, replaced with... warmth. Even if it burned, seared him to the bone, like warming a frostbitten hand at the fire.

What came out wasn't a word, so much as an exhalation, half-choked and half-muffled by feathers in his face. It was all he could really manage, at the moment.