Maybe this is improbable, but I have faith in Breq's capacity for obliviousness.
In That Scene in AM, neither Mercy of Kalr nor Seivarden actually directly said the words "I love you." They made it clear enough that Breq would have to be an incredible idiot not to understand by now, but this is Breq we are talking about.
Maybe they were just being nice! Or just trying to calm her down! Or being hypothetical! Maybe they've changed their minds! After all, they haven't tried to bring it up since! (Neither has Breq.)
So now everyone is in a holding pattern of "this is good enough" with fraught tea-making and wistful shoulder-leaning and very careful conversation. How do they get out of this?
Breq/Mercy of Kalr/Seivarden pining: post-AM, Breq is STILL oblivious
In That Scene in AM, neither Mercy of Kalr nor Seivarden actually directly said the words "I love you." They made it clear enough that Breq would have to be an incredible idiot not to understand by now, but this is Breq we are talking about.
Maybe they were just being nice! Or just trying to calm her down! Or being hypothetical! Maybe they've changed their minds! After all, they haven't tried to bring it up since! (Neither has Breq.)
So now everyone is in a holding pattern of "this is good enough" with fraught tea-making and wistful shoulder-leaning and very careful conversation. How do they get out of this?