Though Axel has a fairly large personal space bubble, he doesn't shift when Ren inches a bit closer. Proximity troubles him far less when the other party is someone he trusts, and it comes as a small surprise to him that he apparently does trust this young man.

Well, they've sparred together a few times, he knows Ren can hold his own, and he'd trust the kid to have his back if it came to it. That must be what it is. Yeah.

He draws in a slow breath and leans back against he wall with a sigh.

"'All right' might be a bit of a stretch," he said with a bitter chuckle. "I'm still in one piece, though, which is what counts, in the end." He looks at him sidelong. "You?"