A pause in turn, Louis stung by the refusal.

A thing that will calcify, cement the sense of blame to underwrite the responsibility Louis had already assigned himself.

Whatever he might have said, whether or not Louis would have asked something more direct, swept aside by the question Daniel puts to him. Louis looks taken aback. Somehow, the last thing he'd expected.

"You're asking about me?"

Confused.

"I should be asked about you."

And he will. If they aren't going to talk about the act, they can hash out the aftermath.