[Ryou wants to argue that things don't have to change so drastically, Atem doesn't have to give up every single caring habit that he ever partook in, because it would alter their relationship too much, too fast...

...But he knows why Atem is saying this. He knows that things can't continue as they are, because Ryou is someone who values his agency. And yet...

Ryou turns his head, so he can speak where Atem can hear him, but he's still leaning.]

I've let you do too much. I haven't been letting myself exist as who I am, when...the truth is, I don't like it when other people take who I am away. It's not that you did it against my will...but my will hasn't been mine in a while, has it?

[There's a shame to his words, weighing them down.]

I don't want things to change too much. Not like this. I still want you to...to ground me. But if it's bad for us, then...

[His snakes hide back in his hair. They don't like this feeling. They're sad and conflicted and don't know how to deal with that any better than Ryou does.]

This is my fault too. I gave up. It's easier to give up and hide. But I shouldn't do that anymore. I can't.