He remembers all too well. But once again, Joseph has absolutely no idea how to address that, where to even begin to explain it. So he lets it wash away in the moments of silence, tense and obvious but faded soon enough.

It seems like neither of them wants to let go first. But Joseph loosens, at least, dropping back to elbow's length with a soft laugh at his partner's self-assessment.

"I know you're not." He cracks a weak smile, a gentle tease. "I think it is, too. I've been here two months now and I'm really starting to think..."

That this isn't STEM at all. He's afraid to vocalize it, like doing so will make the walls finally break down for good. But it's written all over the worry in his gaze.