"Good." Ajax sounded pleased, then looked at her with a slightly narrow gaze. "You're going to have to specifically tell me what DOES count as 'cuddles', then, and I did NOT turn red. I don't 'turn red' thank you very much. I either flinch away, glare, just narrow my eyes, or speak. Those don't include 'turning red'" Ajax huffed/

"I can't tell you how to cuddle, it doesn't work like that." Mercy huffed mysteriously. "But if you ever figure it out I'll tell you." She joked, rolling her eyes at him. "Mm, sure you didn't. You're still like that when I touch you. A lot of times, actually."

Ajax glared at Mercy a little, letting out a loud *Hurumph* of unhappiness. "It has to work like that or I'll never figure it out." He answered grumpily, snorting slightly. "Not true at all in the slightest no way nada nein naw." Ajax sniffed, leaning up against the wall slightly. He was the kind of guy to never refuse a rest break when he got given the chance- mostly because he was used to being worked until he had no choice but to rest.

"Just keep trying." Mercy teased, rolling her eyes. "Deny it all you want, I understand. It happens." She said lightly, reaching up to play with his hair. "I love you, however bad you are with affection." She joked, keeping her head settled against his chest.

Ajax let out a small sigh, closing his eyes a moment then opening them. "Npe, impossible." He announced, looking down at Mercy with a small chuckle. "I told you I don't *turn red*, or whatever you want to call it! There is absolutely nothing you can do to get me to, let's use the real word, 'blush'" Ajax pointed out with a loud huff, wanting to cross his arms to add emphasis to his point buuuut he would probably squish Mercy's head in the process soooo he decided that wasn't the beest idea. "Well I love you too, however too good you are with affection." He smiled slightly. "And yes, there is such a thing as too good in my eyes." Ajax sniffed with a small snort.

"I'll give you lessons then, I guess." Mercy huffed, rolling her eyes at him and giving a slight scoff. "No, but you do act like you don't like me touching you sometimes." She huffed sarcastically, gently resting her chin on his chest to look up at him. "Mhm. Just because I know how to cuddle doesn't make me too good. It's a pretty easy thing to master, actually."

"Lessons? Extreme... but if that'll make you stop begging." Ajax sighed dramatically, chuckling a little as his eyes sparkled with mischief. "Well of course I don't, remember that like super long depressing story where I explained why I don't like it? There's no way you forgot already." He snorted. "But I'm warming up, be happy. I'm trying." Ajax grinned slightly. "Fair point. Just too good for me, because I'm sub-par." He laughed a little.

"It will. Maybe. Probably not, actually." Mercy grinned, smiling up at him. "I haven't forgotten, I'm just bad at not being affectionate." She muttered, gently pulling away from him and walking to her glass of water from earlier. "I am happy." She said, chuckling at him. "You have potential. Don't be too sad."

"I was happy. Then I was okay. Now I'm depressed." Ajax snorted, leaning up against the wall with a yawn. "Okay okay, you can't change your personality. I can change my everlasting fears. I'll try." He shook his head slightly, running a hand through his hair and yet again marveling at how there wasn't even a trace of a scratch. +Damn, I really want that power. Imagine the pain it would've saved me. Then again, if I had it, would I have been too stubborn to use it? Hmm+ Ajax got lost deep in cocnerning thoughts, snapping out when Mercy spoke again. "Oh- that's good. I'm relieved to know I have potential. Like, phew." He teased a little.

"Shut up." Mercy said playfully, rolling her eyes and offering him a smile. "Trying is better than nothing. I'll take it." She said lightly, setting her water down after she took another sip. After, she walked back to him to lean against the wall beside him, tilting her head up at him and his thoughtful expression. "You're welcome. I know you were a little scared for a second there." She mocked.