They can hardly be said to be close, but in those first moments - hours, days - of Shiro's arrival, Altair was unfailingly kind. Shiro isn't sure he can offer what the man needs, but he can certainly make the attempt, at least. To listen, if nothing else. God knew that had been what his team, what the people closest to him, had needed more than anything else, at times, even if there was no ready solution.

"That doesn't sound totally unfamiliar," he says, with a mild wryness. "Would you like to talk about it?"