Little does Vincent know that in that moment, Irahl is struggling with the extremely alien impulse of wanting to hug his friend. Or be hugged. He doesn't know. And he doesn't know what to do with an impulse like that--he doesn't even know what to think about it--so, some part of him is relieved when Vincent interrupts it with a joke.

He takes his hand back, pretending he was planning on doing so anyway. Vincent is free again.

"Sure. Don't think you'd survive another attack."

Back to jokes. That's something he does know how to do.