He needs both patience and encouragement - the former to help him relax and the latter to help him express himself. Each time he pushes beyond his fear with Xue Yang, he is rewarded exponentially. His head bows against those hands and he welcomes his husband, wrapping an arm around him to keep him tucked close.

"Did you sleep well?" he murmurs to the baby squirrel, noticing a little food left over on the child's whiskers, "He must have fed you something good."

Then his attention returns to Xue Yang and he softens, smiling.

"I can hold you if you like?"