[Okay, no. He's not going to ruin this. Not this time. He swallows and just reminds himself that this is Suki. He doesn't have to be anyone other than himself around her. No need to be bold, heroic, or leaderly. Just himself.

So what he does is grins instead.]

I do love you. And not just now, either - for a long time now. And that... well, I don't think it's going to change anytime soon.