"What?" He frowns, confused for a few more beats than he would have liked. Where did that even come from? He never said--
"Oh." Another beat, and then he's shaking his head, "No, Mick, I- that's not-"
The world isn't just tilted anymore, it's spinning completely off its axis and he can't breathe. His chest is tight, his hands are clenched into fists, nails digging into his palm. It's rare he gets out of control at all, and even more so that he spins into an absolute panic, but this is absolutely one of those moments. He can feel it swimming in his head, and in his veins and it's only his nails digging into his hand that keeps him from completely spiraling out.
His next words are managed, barely, through clenched teeth. "I'm not...kicking you to the curb, Mick. I'm...giving you permission to seek extra resources." As he continues, it gets easier until there's just a flood of words pouring out of him. "I want you, I just- this isn't something I can give you. Not...like I should. Not like you need. So for this...someone else can...fill in. But--" something in his face falls, and his voice drops. "you'll always come home to me..."
I can't handle this, abort abort abort.
"Oh." Another beat, and then he's shaking his head, "No, Mick, I- that's not-"
The world isn't just tilted anymore, it's spinning completely off its axis and he can't breathe. His chest is tight, his hands are clenched into fists, nails digging into his palm. It's rare he gets out of control at all, and even more so that he spins into an absolute panic, but this is absolutely one of those moments. He can feel it swimming in his head, and in his veins and it's only his nails digging into his hand that keeps him from completely spiraling out.
His next words are managed, barely, through clenched teeth. "I'm not...kicking you to the curb, Mick. I'm...giving you permission to seek extra resources." As he continues, it gets easier until there's just a flood of words pouring out of him. "I want you, I just- this isn't something I can give you. Not...like I should. Not like you need. So for this...someone else can...fill in. But--" something in his face falls, and his voice drops. "you'll always come home to me..."