[His ears perk forward a little as Ryou goes silent, and he gives him time to think about whether it is because he doesn't fully trust Beat still. And Beat won't mind if it is, it just means he'll have to pull back like with Atem, and begin building it again.

Then his ears lay back a little in confusion.]

Why wouldn't I trustchu, yo?

[The question is very sincere. Ryou did what he did for his reasons that Beat understands, and he knows now that Ryou has what he needs to feel safe, he won't be doing anything like it again.

His question he follows up with dropping his hand on Ryou's head, and lightly rubbing to mess everything up, his muzzle parting into a grin.]

I understand why you did what you did, yo. This place, an' summa the people in it [AM... AM and the memory of Fire, of cooking alive, of-] really hurtchu an' you wanted to make sure you couldn't be hurt no more.

[And he follows it with a headbonk, tail wagging so briskly it makes quiet wsh wsh noises.]