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"Welcome home." He'd heard the front door open, and knew enough to trust the faint sound of their footfalls as they drew closer. His faith was vindicated then, when a tangle of blonde-on-brown suddenly plopped onto the seat next to him, though he did not receive that most telling of doting gestures. He would just have to see to it himself, he thought, pouting.[break][break]

"Hey," he speaks back softly, turning his attention away from the current programming. Dusting himself off, he manages a scoff at the thought of Mistral giving him any trouble. "Luckily, we managed to get on just fine." At least mostly, anyway.[break][break]

Warmth cozies up against him, and he pulls away the tangles to get a clear view, delicately mouthing the words just as recognition stuns him: "I missed...—"[break][break]

His mouth is left agape where it might have connected to them, and the faint gritting of his teeth can be heard as his digits trace faintly at the area surrounding the... marks. He can imagine many things, each passing scenario leaving him increasingly disturbed at the prospect of...[break][break]

"...Who—who put their hands on you?"

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He's surprised to hear Noah's name, but as Rowan divulged him the details, it seemed more and more... appropriate. Row... How could he not have expected something like this to happen...? Adrian can recall the takeover personally, though he could only ever guess at the exacting reasons for Rowan's melancholy at the time. But now he had it all, though he knew not what to do with it.[break][break]

Anger and frustration come easy, however.[break][break]

He raises a tender hand to their cheek, thinking maybe to console them... But he does not speak to anything but his disbelief. "...What else were you expecting? A heartfelt thank you?" As if.[break][break]

Although he's something along the lines of pleasantly surprised by Rowan's pseudo-selfless ask, it all reminds him of an age old adage:[break]

No good deed goes unpunished.

To think Rowan risked throwing away so much—but he could understand all too well how it must have haunted him—given him so many sleepless nights...[break][break]

Managing himself somewhat indelicately, he chooses instead to focus on the underlying problem, rather than accusing Rowan of anything other than being a good person. Draping himself over their shoulders, he musters a light squeeze before sharing his thoughts. "You're not cut out for this, Row..."[break][break]

It wasn't always going to work out. He'd been lucky.

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Adrian might have been doubting of the plausibility of it all, but when he hears Kingsman's name, it gives him certain assurances. The Ranger had done well by him, had a good head on his shoulders and was, in his eyes, likely the most sympathetic one of their bunch. If it had been any other name, he would have been skeptical to put such trust in them... He makes this exception.[break][break]

Their hand to his chest, he finds only sincerity in Rowan's voice, feeling pity for them and the life they've had to lead. He'd been made to do cruel things, but he was not himself cruel. Adrian wanted this for him too, and yet—it was not an easy thing.[break][break]

"I know." Regardless of their familial obligations to one another, they were his betters—placed into positions of power, authority—and Rocket would not so easily let either of them go. Even if they were family—especially if they were family.[break][break]

Adrian does not have the answers, but neither would he wish for Rowan to remain. It's a tragic thing, and he finds momentary comfort in their touch, but it cannot break the gloom falling over them.[break][break]

"...Maybe there is a way." But it would not be so simple as to happen overnight, and so they would have to sleep on it, mulling over the ultimatums and repercussions of such a loaded predicament.[break][break]

But he wanted this for Rowan. Such a gentle thing was not meant for this life, and he would attain a certain peace of mind knowing they were free of it.