Truth is, he does appreciate it. Sort of. It's the kind of thing he can't help but react to by griping or squirming under the attention, at worst, and just not quite acknowledging it at best. Still-- and this is the worst of it, the part he definitely can't explain, doesn't want anyone to guess at-- it makes all the difference in the world every goddamn time someone treats him like a human. Like himself.

He nods, because that's all he's reliably sure he can manage in response, and ducks away from the touch to stalk off, back to doing... well, whatever he can, to keep busy.