It's still such a weird clash with the image he's build of Doc in his mind. Just proves how little he actually knows the man in front of him. Still, the honesty in it all gets him points, too, and it makes one corner of his mouth almost tilt up.

His face scrunches in disgust, "Esteemed isn't the word I'd use..." Not about his father. He manages a weak smile. "Yeah, I know, it's just-" His gaze drops down to his lap, fidgeting again. Everything out of his mouth always feels like an excuse, somehow. "it's really hard to let go of stuff that was drilled into me from- from birth, really."

(He hates how easy it is for his mind to conjure up his father's voice in his head. "Excuses, Number Four. Again!)"

"But..." He lets out a long sigh before he nods. "I'll try to...figure something out." He brings his eyes back up to Doc's face again. "I promise." And he means that.