W-w-- [spluttering, knees dropping to the floor as he over-balanced in his haste,] --ait, wait!
[it might've been weird to press the issue -- it felt awkward, especially as Nic glanced away, his words even more grit out than usual. but as with his throw after finding the man, as with the argument in the hallway, once on a roll, he couldn't exactly stop.]
[especially because if Nic said it here, it must've meant something. -- and, beyond that, it... sounded nice, something he might've thanked or felt gratitude for, and - empathetic, off-handedly apologetic,]
no subject
[it might've been weird to press the issue -- it felt awkward, especially as Nic glanced away, his words even more grit out than usual. but as with his throw after finding the man, as with the argument in the hallway, once on a roll, he couldn't exactly stop.]
[especially because if Nic said it here, it must've meant something. -- and, beyond that, it... sounded nice, something he might've thanked or felt gratitude for, and - empathetic, off-handedly apologetic,]
No, really. Aim for what?