[ This is why he hates words. They hurt. You can't take them back. Trying to do something - anything - is easier to explain away. Easier to disregard. Once he's said those words, there's no taking them back. He feels like he can't look at Drift right now. Everything he's tried not to think about or shove down and sit on is starting to come bubbling back to the surface and he hates it. ]

I'm-

[ What? Sorry? It's not something you apologize for. Not with words. Not in a way that matters. ]

...I didn't want to hurt you. [ More than I have, he doesn't say. But that's all there is to it. Even saying this out loud is a minor miracle for him. But it's just them - so maybe he can do it. Maybe he can actually communicate for once. ]

I'm not - I'm not going anywhere. I just need to sort through this. I just need to... let it burn out. That's all. Focus on the mission. [ Because he can't be second-best. ]