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I know. That's why I trust you.

[He's careful and slow as he gathers his brother close, holding him if Ariel lets him.]

You won't. Don't be afraid. Because you are't someone who will hurt others for enjoyment. You won't let that echo do it, that wasn't even a sting Ariel. I absolutely believe you would do anything to stop from hurting someone. So I know you won't.

You just have to realize it.

[He allows himself to be held, but he can't relax. The reassurances are nice, but the only go so deep when there's a voice in his head that sounds just like his own telling him it's all for nothing. It's true, he doesn't want to hurt anyone. But that's not his true nature, is it? Those feelings are a revision imposed by Tristan -- his whole self is a fantasy made for someone else's enjoyment. A fresh coat of paint over an ugly truth. Tristan's telling him he's strong, but at the same time someone else is accusing him of being nothing but a decorative automaton, and he feels like his own thoughts are being drowned out between the two. It's noisy and confusing and it hurts, so all he knows to do is shrink in on himself and cry in Tristan's arms.]

[He holds Ariel, petting his hair and offering what comfort and affection he can. All his love is probably not enough at all, but he's thinking. Ariel at least gave him a clue: what he's done wrong all this time is shelter his brother. Then in that case, he won't take away his protection but he can try to mitigate the damage of keeping Ariel confined and protected, give him more freedom and responsibility and trust and pray it helps. ]

Ariel it's all right. It will be all right. I love you. You'll be okay.

It's not all right.

[It's not, and he's not okay, and he can't see himself being okay. But he knows it's not an argument they should keep having, because he'll never convince Tristan to agree with him and he probably doesn't want to. He's better off believing there's hope. So Ariel just shakes his head, trying to calm himself enough to pass it off as a finished episode.]

But... I'll try.

[Ariel's a liar and Tris knows it but what's the use of arguing? It'll upset them both. He runs his fingers through Ariel's hair, soothing and calming and caring, or possessive and protective, depending on your viewpoint.]

I need you with me Ariel. More than you think.

I understand.

[No he doesn't. Or he kind of does. He knows that Tristan's messed up and their relationship has always been based on unhealthy dependency. But he also believes in Tris's ability to learn to cope, if he really tries.]

Let's go to bed, okay?

Not on the floor.

[It's nice that Ariel believes in him, this one at least. But Tristan and an older Ariel both know better, Tris isn't as strong as he pretends, not about this. So he needs it to work perhaps more than Ariel does--Ariel can give up, but Tris can't.]

Please don't argue with me on this one, Tristan.

[Gently, he tries to pry himself out of Tris's arms. It's not that he hates him. It's not that he can even sustain the kind of betrayed rage he felt when he first realised what and who he was. But he can't get over the anger entirely, he can't banish the queasy half-guilty, half-used feeling, and the fact still remains that the closer he is to Tristan, the close his thoughts and those of his other self align.]

I'll be fine right here.

Then you take the bed.

[Tristan doesn't sleep well alone, if he's not going to get any decent sleep anyway, Ariel might as well have a comfortable night.]

Don't be ridiculous. You're the one who has to take care of himself.

I have enough work to do I'll be up late as it is. Don't argue with me on every detail.