Martin stares at him, listening to Jon talk - his expression blank and drawn, and he sits there for a moment like that when he finishes. Silent, just for that split second, until his expression crumples in Jon's hands and he pulls back only to hastily scrub the tears from his eyes with the heel of his palm.

He starts to talk and stumbles over himself, because he feels like he should say something here, but he doesn't know what- so he just makes a strangled little noise and nods, yes, that he understands.

"I love you," he croaks, finally, and the guarded frostiness in his voice has just evaporated.