[Lance nods slow, taking that in. Just hearing that Shiro understands, and also feeling it through his empathic ability helps a bit. The way Shiro talks about it isn't untrue for himself, though he's come to realize it's more, now that he's faced with it being an actual reality. He's silent for another moment and then lets out a breath, gloved hands curling a bit as he tries to stop them from shaking.]

It also… made it more real, I guess. It used to be something that just lived in my memory. And his… [A shuddered breath.] I wanted to forget. But I couldn't, not totally… I think because I've… always felt like it was my fault. And now everyone knows. It lives in all your heads too, and I'm scared… I'm afraid that's all anyone's gonna see now. Th-that…

[That it's all he is, that he's lost too many pieces of himself and his grip on himself keeps slipping and he doesn't know who he is anymore, and-

His voice shakes and fails him and he's started to glow, but it's not dangerous for Shiro to keep touching him right now. Even as he's opening up, he's afraid. He's making himself because he feels like he has to, and also… because he's afraid of what Shiro sees now. Deep down, that's what's driving him and normally he'd put on a mask of being okay. But he knows he can't do that now, not after everything got put out there like that. His options are few.]