( Peter looks down at Fitz's hand over his wrist, and then he lifts his gaze again to meet his. His chest aches slightly to think Fitz still thinks of him as a friend. )

I know. It just- It felt a lot bigger and different that time. That's why I've kept... my distance.

( Maybe because of everything else Peter had swallowed down, building up this pressure until he snapped. Maybe because he tried to open up so much. Maybe because he was so aggressively pushing how much Fitz meant to him on him. Maybe because tensions were already so high, and it exploded, and it reminded him of the many times Peter has- has had very good intentions which resulted in explosions. ...sometimes very literal explosions.

He finally smiles though. It's quiet, small but genuine. )

I'm glad I was wrong.