Clark leaned into the touch, accepting the affection and giving some of it back. He knew Jim wasn't... well. But he also knew something in Jim needed to take care of others. He'd been worried about coming down, not sure of what to do. In the end, he'd decided to go with the most human of options: he'd been himself, fears and worries and troubles and all, heart on his sleeve as always. He hadn't been sure if this was the right way to go, but he was pretty sure that this was a good sign.

He smiled a little.

"And now I have an inkling of how you must have felt watching Steve all those years ago? And, you know... last Tuesday."