Sitting, waiting, gave him the opportunity to sit in stillness, despite how much more of him wanted to act. Perhaps to Ava this was a bit odd, even as she begins to brighten, but this was him at his most familiar. To build walls one must become one.
Despite this thinking, his body tenses further. She deserved better.
"Comf-" Sarah starts and stops as he exhales softly, closing his eyes. He slowly shakes his head, unable to stop from pinching the bridge of his nose, eyes squeezing tighter. It's a brief moment before his hand falls again and his face relaxes, though a tightness sits in his jaw. "... No. No, it. It is not. But that," another exhale. "That's, a whole other, topic entirely."
Hands twisted together again, he frowns at them to keep from directing it toward her. Perhaps it wasn't her intention to imply his behavior was immature, child-like, but even if it was, he worked to still himself. Emotional reactions were useless to proper discussion.
"The, concept is simple at it's core, yes. Something, anyone - everyone, even - has experienced in, some capacity," he says, slowly. "But it's, more complicated than that. The choices I make are, are not directed at, you, anyone, they're to, keep me, safe. Selfish, yes, but one I, am fully aware of. These, choices have, gotten me to, where I am, now, so. That has to, count for something."
