Linden has been in jail before, and is actually pretty used to it. This is the first time he's felt a pang of something other than annoyance or boredom at being behind bars. It might be genuine regret that he is inaccessible to someone who trusts him most. For someone like Nill, that's probably saying a lot, and he's grateful, even if he thinks he is woefully undeserving of any kind of faith.

I trust you is hard for him to say to anyone. The words stick in his throat and he hates that he can't perfectly balance and reciprocate the sentiment.. That scar slicing across his throat has ruined him for trust, and he recognizes that it's unfair to Nill, who hasn't even let him down like he feels Stephen has tonight.

"I... believe you must know my feelings. I worry often that they're so obvious that everyone does."