AimeeLynn
It seems like he is holding back too. I don't think it is all her. She is begging him to "not hold back" but he still treats her like she is fragile. And she is, but not all aspects of her are and HE needs to trust her that she will tell him when it's too much. In my humble opinion, it's both of them holding back that is preventing the bond to snap into place.
Poor Gar, it’s hard to go into battle of all things thinking that things aren’t ‘complete’ between the two of them Rika’s issues aside, maybe there’s a bigger picture thing that will make a difference during the war? Like if they completed the bond he wouldn’t be able to let her go do what she needs to do??