Asbjørn smiles a little, despite himself. "Sure about that? I haven't even mentioned most of the weirder stuff." And then his shoulder softly bumps against hers. "For what it's worth, I like you, too. Like cross the Arctic like you. Where no bear has gone before."

It's only a half-joke; he's kept his guard up for so long and this entire conversation has been so terrifying on an emotional level because he really does care for Ruby. Humour seems to be the easiest way to deal with what he feels right now. Which is why he finishes with, "But I'd understand if you only wanted to be friends. I would."