[Keith was well braced for that sub-Arctic reception, but there's only so much preparation can do to truly dampen the way the other's tone bruises. He flinches visibly, then lets go of James' arm. Under different circumstances he'd have snapped right back, but all he does now is take a half step back and drops eye contact to look down at the ground.]
I.. [I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I just--] I'll keep this short then.
[He takes a breath, trying to marshal the words together in some way that isn't too much or too little, but the sheer awkwardness of it all is paralyzing. Keith raises his gaze, only tentatively making eye contact because regardless of whatever James' response is, he wants to have at least properly conveyed that he means what he's saying in earnest.]
I owe you an apology. For... [A breath.] For how I left. How I was.
no subject
I.. [I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I just--] I'll keep this short then.
[He takes a breath, trying to marshal the words together in some way that isn't too much or too little, but the sheer awkwardness of it all is paralyzing. Keith raises his gaze, only tentatively making eye contact because regardless of whatever James' response is, he wants to have at least properly conveyed that he means what he's saying in earnest.]
I owe you an apology. For... [A breath.] For how I left. How I was.