None of this really was Alver's fault, but Micah felt like the other man was blaming himself, which was stupid! Micah took another sip of his tea before setting it down and crossing his legs under the table. [color=mediumpurple]"I'm-"[/color] No... He couldn't say he was fine. That was the thing everyone said when they were anything but. That was even an unspoken rule for the two of them was children. When one of them said [i]"I'm fine.[/i] that was the warning siren that something was really wrong. The time spent together had been both of their getaways and Alver had been the only one who actually spent the time to listen to Micah's insecurities as a child.

[color=mediumpurple]"I just need to get back to normal, or as close as I can get."[/color]

But then the Albino started going on about stupid things. Micah stopped trying to small, he stopped trying to put on a show like he always did. His face unreadable. The man got up from his chair, pushing it back with a nasty screech and moved over, pulling on Alver's armrest to move his legs out from under the table before grabbing hold of both armrests to close Alver's escape routes. [i]Well, if you look at it that way.[/i]

[color=mediumpurple]"...Gimme a sec, I'm trying to remember how Hank and Emily did this..."[/color] His tone was a little sheepish, but his stance was firm. [color=mediumpurple]"Okay. Alver Rozu."[/color] He paused as the gears in his brain tried to work. [color=mediumpurple]"'You are not a problem, and you are not a nuisance. I care about you and I don't want you to try and escap'- Oh wait, that's my problem. Um, like, when I got into fights with Hank or- and um-"[/color]

He stopped himself again, [color=mediumpurple]"'Just stay.' I think that's what they always tell me? Honestly I kinda get it but really I still-"[/color] Micah took a hesitant step back, [color=mediumpurple]"I wanted some way to assure you, but I don't have a way with words and um-... I'll shut up now. Go back to babying me."[/color]

Memories played through Micah's head of the interventions Hank and Emily would have with him. More often than not they would come whenever he said something and they got annoyed somehow, like when Emily was pregnant or Hank was drunk. The thoughts tore at his heart, remembering how much love and kindness they had put on him with those words, and Micah hoped they would do the same for Alver.