[The closer he is, the stronger his empathic sense of someone. And in the case of Keith, the closer he is, the more difficult this is for him emotionally. He feels torn in five different directions and shutting down is the best way he's managing for the moment.
But Keith's feelings coupled with that apology has his throat constricting. God, no matter what he does, he can't win, he can't stop from hurting in some way. He swallows the feeling and shoves it in the box with the rest and resolves to focus n getting Keith to the boardwalk. His arm comes around to support his waist and pull him closer.]
You've… got nothing to apologize for. [His voice is less detached, more rough. Then he forces the sincerity he feels to come through, though there's a tremor as he does.] We're a team.
[He swallows and closes his eyes. His head turns a bit jerkily away like he just heard a loud voice that startled him. Which he did, but he knows chances are it's all in his head. That's usually the case. And he makes himself not address it more than that. Then he opens them again and now that Keith is so close he's definitely noticing how cold he is. Then he tries to sound more normal. Tries.]
Dude, let's get you some soup, you feel like an ice cube.
no subject
But Keith's feelings coupled with that apology has his throat constricting. God, no matter what he does, he can't win, he can't stop from hurting in some way. He swallows the feeling and shoves it in the box with the rest and resolves to focus n getting Keith to the boardwalk. His arm comes around to support his waist and pull him closer.]
You've… got nothing to apologize for. [His voice is less detached, more rough. Then he forces the sincerity he feels to come through, though there's a tremor as he does.] We're a team.
[He swallows and closes his eyes. His head turns a bit jerkily away like he just heard a loud voice that startled him. Which he did, but he knows chances are it's all in his head. That's usually the case. And he makes himself not address it more than that. Then he opens them again and now that Keith is so close he's definitely noticing how cold he is. Then he tries to sound more normal. Tries.]
Dude, let's get you some soup, you feel like an ice cube.