[You still do, he thinks immediately but bites back the words, the sentiment there-- even like this, maybe he can't help but hold back regardless. Because he can see how it throws Art, the way he won't back down, not about anything that concerns his worth, not when he can tell him just how much he matters... and it's something he refuses to downplay. But this? This sure as hell is something he can shut up about.
So instead of saying that, he sighs out with a soft laugh instead.]
I'm sayin' there's only so long you can balance on a tightrope before you fall down.
[And he was already halfway to the ground, as it were.
But there's no joke in Art's tone when he speaks, and the quiet words seem to suck all the air out of his lungs, even like this-- and this, this is something for which he could thank the God he had given up on believing in, because he spent so long becoming perfect in not wanting, in not reaching out and hoping... that now when that's all fallen away he just can't stop.
He draws a shaky breath, closes his eyes for a moment. Then,]
Well... maybe it's good a regret like that's easy to fix.