adjacent ➵ tronnor

apologies

"I suppose I'm a little bit sorry," Troye says quietly but audibly, and he drawls out the 'i' in little. His words turn the atmosphere into a more serious one, and this is an awkward territory for Connor.

Connor's fairly shocked that Troye actually apologised — it seems all too rational for someone such as him. Troye just seems like the type to make rash, haphazard decisions (which really is a bad combination to add on to the fact that he's stubborn as fuck. Take the whole Tyler ordeal as an example; once he made the sudden decision, he refused to quit out of spite and determination to win the metaphorical battle between him and Connor).

He is also, however, quite pissed that Troye's apology lacked in sincerity and fullness. Seriously, a little bit? How weak. Connor likes Troye — he really, really does — but by no means does this signify that he'll allow the boy to get away with such a half-assed beg-pardon. He does understand that the amount of pride Troye has is perhaps a little overwhelming (for lack of better words), but still, he's not particularly impressed.

"Only a little bit?" Connor says, teasing Troye to admit fully. He can't quite muster up the courage to tell him everything he's just been thinking just yet; a simple mock suffices just fine.

Troye glares at him, piercing blue eyes narrowed but still as bright as ever. Connor refuses to pay mind to how nice they are, as he usually would. "Just accept the apology, asshole. Bet you're surprised I even have a tiny fraction of remorse inside me, huh?" he says, and there's a severe lack of the harsh tone of voice Connor anticipated; it contrasts the stern look his face holds.

"So, let me get this straight: you say you "suppose" that you're "only a little" sorry, then call me an asshole, and yet you still expect me to be forgiving?" Connor questions him, raising an eyebrow for effect. His words are accompanied by gesticulations over the quoted words. What Troye anticipated is a little far-fetched.

"Um, yes?" he says meekly, unsure of his own response.

As much as Connor wants to straight-up say he doesn't accept Troye's poor excuse of an apology, he can't quite bring himself to. He exhales a loud sigh and shrugs, "I suppose that I forgive you only a little bit." He does his best to keep his tone just a slight bit cold so he doesn't just seem like he's just teasing — he is, in a sense, because he is indeed mocking his earlier phrasing, but he also means it (or, at least, would like to think he does) and he intends to stick to it.

Troye smiles briefly and slightly; a small part of Connor hopes to see more of that soon, if they both decide that they need to hold back on their pride and bitterness. It feels almost out of character, though: he's grown rather used to seeing the more resentful side of him. It's a complete rarity. He can't quite put his finger on why he smiled, though.

"Fair enough," Troye decides.

"Do you also forgive me for ruining our wall?" Connor asks. Perhaps it's a long shot because Troye is, as aforementioned, very stubborn, but there's no harm in trying.

Troye repeats, "Only a little bit." He pauses a moment, then says, "We're still, like, enemies, though, yeah?"

Connor smirks. "Only a little bit," he says.

"Well, in that case, I hate you only a little bit."

"I hate you only a little bit, too."

Truth is, though, that Connor's only a little bit infatuated with him.