Bright blue eyes watch with rapt attention - taking in every word, every frightened motion Herbert makes. It's heartbreaking, to see Herbert this way...so scared of something without even knowing why. He knows that sort of fear, knows what it is to want to curl up, to hide, to be so deeply scared that you can't even remember that you had a good reason to be.

He reaches out to carefully run his fingers through Herbert's hair, tucking a stray lock behind his ear.

"...I don't think it's silly at all, Engel. I think-"

He hesitates. He doesn't want to push, but....

"I think...that something...must have happened to you. A long time ago, so that you can't remember. And that can...that can really...tear a person up. I would know." He swallows hard, that restless hand landing on Herbert's shoulder. "You can be afraid. That's okay. Just - let me in, a little. Let it out, and let me in. Let me help shoulder the burden of...whatever this is. I want to do that for you, my moonlight. May I?"