[ It always feels deceptively easy at moments like these. Because it's like Tidus is putting the ball right in front of an open goal when he says things like that. 'You could be with anyone', he says, and Inigo can feel words already bubbling up in the back of his throat, as if he could just say them.

I want to be here with you. I only want to do this with you. Tidus, I--

But he stops himself. He knows it's deceptively easy for sure. It seems easy now, but he's going to regret it the moment the words leave his mouth - the moment Tidus turns him down or call him a huge weirdo for even feeling this way in the first place.

It leaves him just staring at the other, looking a bit like a goldfish with the way his mouth hangs slightly open. Inigo nervously licks his lips, and something about the look in his eyes fades a little, the constant smile in them finally giving way to something a bit more unsure.

He hates this. Hates his insecurities, hates that the mixed up feelings in his stomach always return to this, even at the most useless of times, like right this very instance. He hates that he couldn't just stick with it. ]

I wasn't.. roleplaying. [ At least he can admit to that part, though it already feels like it toes dangerously close to other things. But he tries to say it like he's just clarifying.

Especially when it feels like what Tidus is saying is instead close to heading into that direction. ]

It's just-- [ His gaze drops too. ] You said you liked it when I was confident. So I wanted to be like that for you.