"That is not what I meant," he says, taking it in stride. He's pretty sure that Declan meant it as an insult, something to try and push him away, but Gansey's neither that shallow or easily dissuaded.
His voice is soft and careful, caring in that way that if this was Adam it would have already triggered a fight. He would have called it pity and in worrying Gansey would have said something that made it worse. What do you need?, it's the question he doesn't ask, but the one that's tucked just behind his teeth. He takes an even breath, pushes down the ache and the burn of the hurt, something on his skin that he couldn't have entirely explained.
He pulls on his pants, so he's at least not indecent, then a shirt. So he looks more like this is somehow acceptable, even if he's sure that they aren't.
"You didn't want this, did you?" He keeps his voice mild, doesn't let his own hurt touch the way that he talks, even if it's in his chest. "I just don't-" He forces himself to pause, to think of his words before he speaks. Declan is sharp as a blade, but he's aware of how easy it would be for Declan to walk out the door.
"I didn't intend to make it seem like I expected anything you didn't want." His original question had felt more barbed than he wanted it to be. He didn't want to put this on Declan, make it seem like he was asking him to answer for some sort of transgression.
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His voice is soft and careful, caring in that way that if this was Adam it would have already triggered a fight. He would have called it pity and in worrying Gansey would have said something that made it worse. What do you need?, it's the question he doesn't ask, but the one that's tucked just behind his teeth. He takes an even breath, pushes down the ache and the burn of the hurt, something on his skin that he couldn't have entirely explained.
He pulls on his pants, so he's at least not indecent, then a shirt. So he looks more like this is somehow acceptable, even if he's sure that they aren't.
"You didn't want this, did you?" He keeps his voice mild, doesn't let his own hurt touch the way that he talks, even if it's in his chest. "I just don't-" He forces himself to pause, to think of his words before he speaks. Declan is sharp as a blade, but he's aware of how easy it would be for Declan to walk out the door.
"I didn't intend to make it seem like I expected anything you didn't want." His original question had felt more barbed than he wanted it to be. He didn't want to put this on Declan, make it seem like he was asking him to answer for some sort of transgression.