Leo could only watch mutedly as Elliot fell back to his previous sitting position on the bed, speechless. It was hard for one to read Leo's exact expression then- it was, after all, an odd mishmash between relief, concern, worry, maybe...terror. In fact, it wouldn't be too far to say that the boy had just exchanged his physical stability for his mental surety at that moment.

Certainly, he'd been expecting yelling for his own impudent reply (which probably could have been phrased better, now that he thought about it), maybe violence- it was hard to tell when one was dealing with Elliot. But he hadn't been expecting...silence. Silence didn't suit Elliot, and it actually frightened him when Elliot was so quiet, especially in these kinds of situations.

A pregnant pause filled the room. If things weren't awkward before, they were now.

...damn it. How had he allowed things to snowball to this? And that wince- don't think he had for a moment missed that. There wasn't anyone in this school who knew his master's tics as well as this servant did.

"Elliot..."