...

[That tiny, almost scared little confusion squirming through everything almost feels like it quivers, hearing that.]

... Twice that...

[...

And now, for some reason, his shoulders droop, that expression of his starting to smooth out.

It's as if he's recognizing that his reaction to it all is a lot bigger than his feelings truly are, and that maybe he should...
Be honest about it. Drop the theatrics, the acting he purposefully puts on to look "normal" to others.]

Mmm. ... It's very touching, just how strongly you feel about me.
I apologize if what you're finding on my end is disappointing... but please know that my own are - they're... the strongest I've felt about anything.