[Her confusion is enough to draw another laugh out of him, dry and fairly quiet as it is. He reaches up to draw his fingers through his hair, for once not obsessing over the fact that it looks pretty disheveled at the moment.]

Did I stutter?

[His response is both stern and almost light at the same time as he rests his chin in his hand, looking over at her to finally try and catch her eye. His shoulders roll in another shrug as he continues.]

I'm pretty sure that if you hadn't come here today to....check up on me I would have done something I regretted. ....There are a lot of things I regret, admittedly.

[Now that's something he'd never openly admit to anyone and yet there he said it. While he'd never admit it, though, it's the truth.

...What would he have done? If one thinks about the implications, it could have been anything...and he doesn't necessarily mean doing something regrettable to someone else.

Another sigh escapes him as he watches her. His vibrant blue eyes suddenly seem pale and dark....lonely....and sad, in a way. His voice is low as he says one last thing before the thick feeling in his throat prohibits him from saying anything else.]

You're the only reason I haven't given up. ...because you.... believe in me.

A-and....I like that. ...You.