As if Shinji ever needed to ask Kai for some patience. The blonde just rubbed the other's back in slow strokes, a soft 'shhh' on his breath. Hearing those apologies made his heart ache all over again. There was no reason to be sorry.

"You've held on tight this whole time," Kai whispered back to him. He'd been trying so hard to keep it all inside, even when the both of them had been overcome. The steadiness had been appreciated, but it was Kai's turn to be the steady one. He tilt his head against Shinji's, pulling in a slow, deep breath to encourage a few of his own. "It's ok, Shinji. Go ahead. It's safe to let it go now."

No one here was going to be upset over tears.