[ In a strange way, Lalo is grateful that Fraser doesn't let him evade the subject. When Lalo feels embarrassed about something, it's sheer instinct to cheerfully brush over it, as Fraser had noted. But he won't get to the bottom of this by breezing over everything.
He has to actually open up about his insecurities. He actually does smile genuinely at Fraser's kindness, from his serious assessment of the woman with strong teeth to Fraser's gentle prodding about his insecurities.
Lalo's ears get red; common for him now, when he's embarrassed. He realizes how vulnerable he feels right now, and how alien that feels to him. To some people this might be nothing, but to Lalo, he feels like he's exposing his soft underbelly to Fraser in a way that could easily be deeply embarrassing for him if Fraser wasn't the nicest man alive. There are so many insecurities he's exposing to Fraser right now.
Lalo is not afraid of violence, or death, or mortal peril. He's not afraid of the icy wastelands they find themselves in or the creatures that live in them. But right now, it takes a lot of courage for him not to brush past again and force himself to just directly answer Fraser's question.
He rubs the back of his neck, and looks down at his shoes. He clears his throat. ]
Yes.
[ They might be in snowy Canada, but Lalo feels like he's going to disappear in a blaze of fire at any moment as he heats up from the embarrassment. ]
no subject
He has to actually open up about his insecurities. He actually does smile genuinely at Fraser's kindness, from his serious assessment of the woman with strong teeth to Fraser's gentle prodding about his insecurities.
Lalo's ears get red; common for him now, when he's embarrassed. He realizes how vulnerable he feels right now, and how alien that feels to him. To some people this might be nothing, but to Lalo, he feels like he's exposing his soft underbelly to Fraser in a way that could easily be deeply embarrassing for him if Fraser wasn't the nicest man alive. There are so many insecurities he's exposing to Fraser right now.
Lalo is not afraid of violence, or death, or mortal peril. He's not afraid of the icy wastelands they find themselves in or the creatures that live in them. But right now, it takes a lot of courage for him not to brush past again and force himself to just directly answer Fraser's question.
He rubs the back of his neck, and looks down at his shoes. He clears his throat. ]
Yes.
[ They might be in snowy Canada, but Lalo feels like he's going to disappear in a blaze of fire at any moment as he heats up from the embarrassment. ]