[So not that long ago... as turbulent as Apollo's feelings are at the moment, he knows he can't really blame Phoenix for this one. There are plenty of things that he's side-eyed his mentor for in the time they've known each other, but this isn't one of them. After all, most of Apollo's unease stems from something that happened a long time before this.

At least Phoenix isn't trying to break the tension with an off-colored joke, like he's done before. That's something. Apollo's shoulders slump as he realizes Phoenix is actually taking this seriously.]

I don't know how to feel about this. [It's a hard thing to admit to someone he's only known for a little while. Even if Apollo's begun to see past the "who even cares" act Phoenix was using for the last seven years, and maybe even begun to trust him because of it, he's not really in the habit of spilling information about his childhood.

Apollo presses a finger between his brows, as he usually does when he's thinking deeply.] I grew up an orphan. Suddenly I have a mom again? That's not--that's not the way it works. Maybe for Trucy it's fine, but-- [His eyes widen, noticing his slip, and he immediately clams up.]