[ He winces at that, quietly hissing in a breath between his teeth. ]
Hey, no, that’s— it’s fine. That was on me. You’re fine, okay? That wasn’t—
[ But she seems to have more to say as she fidgets, as she avoids his gaze, and he cuts himself. Mantis is working up to something, and even as impatient as he is, he knows sometimes people need a second to gather up their thoughts, to figure out what they want to say.
And— well. She says that, and his expression falls around the edges again. Still worried, because he doesn’t know where this is going, but he looks cautious, too. He’s getting the distinct impression that he isn’t going to like this turn of conversation, isn’t going to like whatever it is Mantis is building up to. There’s a touch of wariness in his eyes as he studies her.
(That thought rises unbidden at the back of his mind: She was in on it the whole time.
But that’s not fair. He knows it’s not fair. And he wants to kick himself for even thinking it.)
He swallows, gaze flicking away to one of the brightly colored trinkets on her shelf. ]
Mantis. We’re fine. [ A little insistently, because the part of him that prefers running from his problems wants to let this topic lie, wants to shove all those questions under a rug so he can pretend they’re not there. ] You don’t have to apologize.
no subject
Hey, no, that’s— it’s fine. That was on me. You’re fine, okay? That wasn’t—
[ But she seems to have more to say as she fidgets, as she avoids his gaze, and he cuts himself. Mantis is working up to something, and even as impatient as he is, he knows sometimes people need a second to gather up their thoughts, to figure out what they want to say.
And— well. She says that, and his expression falls around the edges again. Still worried, because he doesn’t know where this is going, but he looks cautious, too. He’s getting the distinct impression that he isn’t going to like this turn of conversation, isn’t going to like whatever it is Mantis is building up to. There’s a touch of wariness in his eyes as he studies her.
(That thought rises unbidden at the back of his mind: She was in on it the whole time.
But that’s not fair. He knows it’s not fair. And he wants to kick himself for even thinking it.)
He swallows, gaze flicking away to one of the brightly colored trinkets on her shelf. ]
Mantis. We’re fine. [ A little insistently, because the part of him that prefers running from his problems wants to let this topic lie, wants to shove all those questions under a rug so he can pretend they’re not there. ] You don’t have to apologize.