The hand that had fallen comes up again and buries itself in the hair he loves.

'What happened with Arithon was...an accident. Just the wrong place at the wrong time. It'll never happen again like that - and if I plan something, I'll tell you like I said.'

He doesn't know what to say about pride and not putting it aside because to him, it's like asking someone to chop their right arm off, lay it aside and then pick it up later. It's just not that easy to distance himself from. So in the end he says nothing, just stares at the ceiling.

'You're not stupid. You get overwrought sometimes but so do I, it's not a big deal.'

He looks down at him then, tipping his chin up so he can look at his face.

'I don't want you to cry, ever. So I'll try and make sure you don't have to.'