[Hands raised in exasperation once again, though they lower abruptly-- then come back up, then lower again--]

I thought that's what you wanted. I didn't, like. [He wrinkles his nose.] ...mean it.

[Some of the tension has left his shoulders, but not all of it. He knows better than to ask if this was some kind of horrible joke, because he won't like the answer either way, and they're not out of the woods yet.

He pushes his hair back out of his face.]