"No...or I don't think so?" Byron's head tilted just a little listening again to try and hear footfalls or something, but once more he heard nothing and turned his full attention back to Octavian. He opened his mouth and then closed it. He didn't talk much when Octavian came. No one wanted to hear what was going on in his head, it was all stupid and useless, so Octavian wouldn't either would he? Then again the other man always seemed so interested in spending time with him and after what Octavian had said, about liking being with him, maybe it'd be alright. When Byron started speaking again the words where a little quicker than normal. As though he was trying to get them out before he was told to shut up, "I mean if it was another soldier they would have shot you and hauled me back to the commander to be executed. If it'd been a citizen they would have started screaming,"<br/><br/>Byron stopped, realizing that Octavian could take it the wrong way and leave, "I-I don't mean you look monsterous or anything. Just that most people aren't used to people with antlers and four eyes. No-not that they're bad or anything. I actually think they're cute-"<br/><br/>The moment those words left his mouth Byron felt all the happiness he'd been feeling evaporate. In its place was a squirming mass. Tendrils of nervousness and fear shifting around in his gut trying to force the soup he'd drank back out of his stomach. His face went pale and his hands trembled around the thermos. He gripped the container tighter to get them to stop but they didn't. They just kept shaking and his body went stiff. His eyes shifting to the ground and mumbled, "I...I'm sorry..."<br/><br/>Would Octavian had heard that? The other man said he didn't have good hearing and...Maybe if Byron apologized he wouldn't leave. Maybe he wouldn't find what Byron had said so offensive. Maybe he'd just think it was a slip of the tongue or something. Anything. Byron just didn't want Octavian to leave.<br/><br/>"I-I'm sorry," he said a bit louder this time, "I didn't mean to...to say anything...wrong...or...I don't know how to describe it. I just...do people tell their friends they're cute? Do men? I-I've never heard anyone do it but...I don't...don't spend much time with people. Or any time...I just...don't go. Please? I won't say it again,"<br/><br/>Byron's tone had the slightest bit of inflection, but not nearly enough to convey how frantic he felt. How much he really wanted to take back what he'd said. He wouldn't say anything else for the rest of the night. He'd let Octavian have all the cookies. He'd bring Octavian more seeds, or sweets, or shiny things, or whatever the other man wanted so long as he kept coming back. So long as Byron didn't have to go back to being lonely. To every day being a series of tasks he had to do to keep breathing, either because it was something his body required or because it prevented the commander and others from just killing him. He'd beg if it helped, though he wasn't sure how effective that would be since his voice was flat as a board. Not to mention he'd been told it was annoying, and no fun to listen to. Not that he thought bagging was supposed to be fun to listen to, he'd never found it appealing and...he was off topic. He just didn't want Octavian to also deem him not worth the antlered man's time.