"Spend long enough not speaking and inertia takes over."

Maybe like wearing his armor, his helmet. It no longer feels natural to go without, to the point that his own skin feels alien to him sometimes.

He sighs. "Anyway." It's something to think about, another struggle to have with himself later when he has the time and patience with himself to do so, perhaps. "I know you prefer to be very private about things, so I haven't told him your name. But I think he'd like to meet you. He'd like you."