"I knew," he insists, shaking his head. "You were going to be fine. And you have been." He looks to Francis' side again, expression firming up unhappily as he braces himself, then curls his fingers and presses his knuckles down against Francis' side. "I could have done this yesterday. I've known you're alright for long enough, I'm just being..."

His hand lifts its pressure again and skates carefully down Francis' side, settling at his hip. He shakes his head and gives Francis a tight smile that's supposed to be cheerful. "I'm being ridiculous. It's good to see you this way. It really is."