( He catches the shield, but there's a pause in the rhythm of their game. The apology catches him off guard, and there's a clear confusion written gently in his features as he studies Sam. ​)

You don't owe me anything.

( He says finally, head tipping down toward the ground and shaking absently back and forth. He doesn't feel slighted by Sam, he doesn't feel like Sam did anything wrong. Not since they've been here, anyway — maybe not at all, but he's still working through that last part. It's only been a day or two. It's a lot to unpack. )

There's a lot going on. Nobody knows what in the hell they're doing, least of all me. It's not your job to handhold me through figuring it out.