[It's not the first time they've exchanged those words, but hearing it still makes him smile and his heart flutter. He'll let there be a moment of comfortable silence between them, just enjoying the feeling of Clay against him.]

[Finally, he'll speak though]

Hey, Clay?

I've been meaning to ask you...how you've been? I mean, with everything going on with the Marsiva and the calibrations...

[He says half-apologetically] I mean, I know I've been kind of wrapped up in my own things the past couple weeks. [Which wasn't without guilt. Noah or not, they were supposed to have an equal relationship right? Both of them were supposed to support each other] I probably should've asked more, sorry.