He chases the hand, not so much the offered necklace: Ren's means enough to him that he wouldn't deprive her of what it might mean to her, even if she thinks to give it away. His fingers close over her own, and he pushes it the rest of the way against her chest, as if to tell her exactly where to keep it--close, and precious.

It isn't a dismissal, and he needs her to know that.

"Not really," he answers, hand still over hers, knuckles still pressed to her sternum and the crows' wings beat behind it. "I'm used to being able to predict things, and being able to shut off people's feelings. Now they're all I ever sense, and it's exhausting. It's--why I had to leave--"

New tears glaze over his eyes, and his face is hot again, the pain of trying not to cry compounding the pain that makes him want to, and he loses that fight again: "It's why Casey made me leave, for awhile. I don't think he knew, just that I needed to get away." Trying to suck it all back, he chokes, and his voice grates again in his throat.

"He really tried to take care of me."