Ha! See, he knew it. It wasn't, really, a reason to rejoice but at least it confirmed that while he might be something stupid the girl wasn't wholly stupid. Though what difference it made for a man to be let so close to her, holding her or not, is lost to him. Comfort, he supposed, but long days and nights that meshed into a blur of forcing yelping and hurt boys down to administer sedative and sedative made the concept of strength through independence foreign. He doesn't want to show more displeasure than he already has, though, at the idea of living in a space so small. Even if it was, he knew, so much safer than sitting outside.

But a phobia is called what it is because it doesn't listen to reason.

"Well, with that shining recommendation…" He sees her gesture. He decides to be brave and waltz inside as instructed, so he ducks his head and marches forward. And promptly stops at the entrance, only peering inside. Nice tree. Hollow tree. Sturdy tree. Comfy mud. Brown bark.

This was all really stupid of him.

"I'm an officer and a gentleman. I swear." And a chicken wanting to show he really was harmless, and a half-assed attempt to bow and show Ellie how much he really insisted she go first wouldn't do it. Christ, he hated everything. Thumpity-thump went his poor little heart and Hawkeye announced, "Ladies first." And he stepped in fully. Finally. Made his way as far in as he could, which admittedly wasn't very far, and rewarded himself by leaning against the skeleton. He'd slide his ass down to the ground but when Ellie entered, there might not be enough room (or oxygen) to relax. Besides- the foot. It's always the foot.