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[Just looks at him, leaning back more fully, on one hand.]

What about it?

... was that you talking out of your ass?

You know it isn't.

So?

So you think I can't love you and also want to be with you?

[Yeah he says it like he absolutely sees nothing wrong.]

When you put it like that, I sound stupid.

You don't sound stupid. I know well enough how it would look to others, I just don't care.

But if you do, that's not to be discounted.

I... I'm happy. But it's confusing!

What's confusing about it?

[Aside from you being a teenager and everything hormonal being confusing.]

Everything! I've known you since I was eight. We have the whole family thing going on, so thinking of you-- that way, is--!

[Tris doesn't care. What the hell are personal boundaries and morals he doesn't remember. And he had to grow up again since puberty with no concept of them, still trying to be good, but also knowing, intimately, how sex feels, how it feels to get off on pain and humiliation and also how it feels to have it be gentle and sweet and at this point he's seen so much and done so much the idea of brothers being a boundary--hell that stopped mattering long before he even got to court.]

It wouldn't make us less family.

[His point of view is warped.]

[ That makes Jupiter rear back, mortified and disturbed. A flash of realization crosses his face. ]

Then you and Ariel--!?

Yes.

[Though that's a fairly recent development.]

What?

............

[Just going to watch Jupiter freak out here. Hm. Well it's probably a normal reaction.]

Am I the only sane one of all of us?

I suppose by most definitions you might be.

Just... one last thing, before I make up my mind.

[ Because when you think deeply about these implications, it's really disturbing. And Tris has always been a little off, but as time went on, Jupiter forgave more and more of it... ]

Did you orchestrate this? With me, and with Ariel. Did you intend for us to feel this way, to be fine with it?

I was ten when events started, Jupiter.

[How could he have planned for this at that age?]

[But in truth he doesn't know himself, whether he was planning specifically for this or this was just a result of what he wanted.]

Along the way, is what I meant. When you're young, a four year difference is a lot.

No. I didn't set this up on the way. I won't say I haven't wanted it for a long time, but if you refuse me that will be that.

[ Breathes out slowly, relaxing. He trusts Tris's words, that Tris is honest with him. It's still fucked up, in all sorts of ways... but as long as Tris wasn't malicious, it helps. ]

I'm not refusing you.

[Ariel's face is a study. And Tris studies it. It's hard to fathom the problem even though he knows it is a problem to others.]

You haven't accepted either, I note.