He supposed he ought to be pleased. Ought to, because Greengrass had been the one to end things, even after Valerian's resistance. Valerian had been the one who wanted to make things work, who was willing to adjust his life to make Greengrass more comfortable when he'd expressed his discomfort. He'd tried, whereas Greengrass had pushed him away, had given up. Valerian ought to be pleased.
But he wasn't. In fact, the words stung like a slap in the face. He wasn't sure if it was the insinuation of some disloyalty that didn't exist or the insecurity that laced Greengrass' words, but he felt the urge to defend himself, to reassure Greengrass that his company had been far less enjoyable than his. He might have reached out and grabbed for his hand. He would have squeezed it, maybe a little too hard, because while he didn't want Greengrass to be wallow in insecurity he was also angry that he was being made to feel guilty about flirting with someone after being broken up with. He might have, had they not been in a room with a dozen or so other men.
As if he owed him that much! Maybe Greengrass had purposefully seated himself in Valerian's sight, knowing that he would come over. Maybe he was saying what he was to manipulate Valerian, to make him feel guilty—
Except he wasn't. He didn't think Greengrass had it in him.
"Why are you being like this?" he scoffed, burying all his emotions in favor of the much-easier outrage. "You did this. You ended things."
But he wasn't. In fact, the words stung like a slap in the face. He wasn't sure if it was the insinuation of some disloyalty that didn't exist or the insecurity that laced Greengrass' words, but he felt the urge to defend himself, to reassure Greengrass that his company had been far less enjoyable than his. He might have reached out and grabbed for his hand. He would have squeezed it, maybe a little too hard, because while he didn't want Greengrass to be wallow in insecurity he was also angry that he was being made to feel guilty about flirting with someone after being broken up with. He might have, had they not been in a room with a dozen or so other men.
As if he owed him that much! Maybe Greengrass had purposefully seated himself in Valerian's sight, knowing that he would come over. Maybe he was saying what he was to manipulate Valerian, to make him feel guilty—
Except he wasn't. He didn't think Greengrass had it in him.
"Why are you being like this?" he scoffed, burying all his emotions in favor of the much-easier outrage. "You did this. You ended things."
