Miles let out a soft, pleased noise at that kiss. "It doesn't come naturally, but...I try," he said, and meant all of that. "I still don't think I'm doing it justice," he added, almost inaudibly. But did that really matter, when Phoenix was finally relaxing, whatever locks were there fading or shattering? He decided, in the end, that it didn't.

There was also the remaining anxiety; he shifted, trying to work a particularly stubborn bit of residual tension out of his shoulders. It only lessened a little, but...relaxing completely had never come completely naturally, either. Despite that, his lips quirked upward; not quite into a smile, but it was close enough.

"I think I still need more practice," he murmured, giving a low chuckle. He had to bite back a quip about bonding over trauma not being the healthiest relationship pattern in the world, but again, it was part of life here. If every traumatic experience wound up with the two of them in each others' arms - well, he wouldn't take the trauma happily, not ever, but it would be a lot easier.