Jon's raised hackles and defensive readiness lower at last, slowly but surely. There was a rational level of him that knew, even from the jump, that she would understand... but that didn't stop him from the knee-jerk defense from being caught in the act.

"It's never been easier to think, too," Jon sighs, finally spilling into full admission. "I haven't felt like I have to drag myself up from a sad little heap any time I sit down, and the energy gets me through days. A week, sometimes, if it's something hefty enough. But..."

He trails off, and the guilt breaks past that guise of perfect rationalization. There's always a catch.