I'm Not a Cynic

It wasn't the first time Ellery had told him to breathe when his anxiety got the best of him, but it didn't help much in this moment because this feeling, this level of guilt rather than simple embarrassment or nerves, was not easily cowed. Clouse knew he'd done wrong, and he knew he had literally no valid reason for doing it. Moving on to his difference in lineage did not help either, and his body sagged further at all points until he was practically laying down, muzzle atop his paws and large, watery gray eyes blinking down at his own nose.

Clouse was a bad kid.

"I... I didn't want you guys to say no," he whispered, hating that the truth was so dumb and selfish.