[Charles isn't surprised to hear that Magpie was planning on avoiding talking with him until the last possible moment. But this much honesty is a relief, and feels like - a chance? He can do something with this with the other man. Magpie may hold his trust close to his chest, but what if that's about not being used to giving it? Possibly ever? That's not an assumption he'll make for good without finding out more, but he can entertain the potential. It fits how much the younger man always fights him at every turn.

Now that Magpie's given him an apology, he can't even pretend to hold onto his anger. It doesn't help either of them.]

That doesn't work here. [Something he's learning, too, but in a different way. Avoiding or ignoring his past, only to paper it over with working to try and make something better of it, is only doing half of the heavy lifting that needs to be done.] Two weeks or two months later, we would have always ended up here. [He waits until he has either the man's gaze or at least his full attention, before continuing:]

Thank you, for apologizing. It's better of you than the way this started.