The smile grows, self-conscious though it may be.
"Well, I don't want to get rid of you." He squares his shoulders, feeling as though he's treading carefully, afraid to dip his feet too deeply into whatever emotional vulnerability is lurking beneath them.

"...I'm afraid Gabranth--" he begins, and cuts himself off, shaking his head at the ground.
"...I don't want to get rid of him either."