It distorted his concept of time a bit, to have Gellert so close, like this, challenging him and using words like 'we.' For a terrifying moment, he entertained the possibility that his mind would attempt break entirely from a linear notion of time, serving to wholly and completely isolate him from the rest of his species. But no, for the moment, he seemed quite trapped, quite rooted to the spot.
Deciphering the meaning of it all, however, was complicated. Gellert had been rather ignorant of his affinity for men before coming to Godric's Hollow, and yet here he was, something smouldering in his eyes that at last made it difficult for Albus to hold his gaze. Dropping his eyes, however, supplied a revelation all its own: Gellert was aroused. The why behind that, however, evaded certainty. Little about their conversation had been even remotely suggestive. Proximity alone could have been the determining factor. And, of course, Albus wasn't one for ignoring the pull of fate. Some arrangements between two people were simply unavoidable. They were simply on the wrong timeline, in so much as there wasn't much of a coherent timeline at all. But this- this was not an option. It was possible Gellert didn't even realise it himself. A small, slick voice in the back of his mind seemed to whipser quite to the contrary-- that Gellert always realised what he was doing.
Abruptly jolted back to at least a little sense and reason, Albus grasped quickly at Gellert's wrist, breaking the contact between his thumb and his cheek. He didn't shove Gellert away; he didn't know how, not under the shadows of something so much like tenderness. This, however, could not be permitted to continue. He needed... Merlin, he needed so many things, but space was most definitely among the things he needed most.
Trying to explain, he began, "I have been... angry with you, for a long time. And that luggage--" But there weren't really words for what that had felt like. "Since the peak that induced, it has been gradually abating." Even if he didn't know why. It was easier to speak of facts and trends, to distance himself from it a bit, as he could not compel himself to put distance between the two of them. "I need more time." Bringing his eyes once again to Gellert's, he added meaningfully, "And more space."
He released Gellert's forearm and attempted to ignore the way various sides of his mind were hedging their bets, trying to see how far Gellert would push, if he would, if he could find a way to understand what Gellert was truly after.