The burble releases something wound up tightly within him, and Neil sighs. Exhales slowly as the kid takes to the gesture, even if it isn't from a known source. Neil remembers then that ED-E has played a major part in fixing the damage in his head, that he probably owes this not-so-little eyebot his life.

...He hates himself. Perhaps he's only feverish, but right now, he couldn't stand the fact of his own fucking existence.

It takes Neil a beat to notice the quiet and subsequently, the large man at the open door. He detaches his hand from ED-E, nodding once toward Alex for the eyebot's sake. To encourage the kid to talk to what could be considered his parent.