[He's never been a good liar, and of course someone who knows him so well would pick up on it. He knows enough to know you're not buying it, but there's nothing he can do to fix that]

[There's only a soft sort of noise in response. He is concerned, but now he's worrying you too and he doesn't want that, what he wants is-]

[Exactly that. Comforting and reassuring and familiar, something to ground him and bring him out of these thoughts, at least for a few minutes. He returns it almost too eagerly, the arm not holding the stick with the fish wrapping tight around your shoulders and holding close. He's not trying to deepen it, not trying for anything more than just to take some comfort in this]