[In truth, he's exhausted. Certainly enough so to allow himself to be led. He sits down, close enough that he can rest his head against Stephen's shoulder. This in itself feels like an act of defeat, a moment of announcing his shortcomings. Whatever great and horrifying thing he'd been back home, he's become a shadow of himself here.]

I have not known love. Not ever. [Certainly not from his Father, and never toward his siblings, human or angel. That was not the way of it.]

Until here. It is... a powerful thing, a sneaky and wretched thing. I am entangled in it, suffocating and -- [He draws in a breath. His chest aches. His head spins.]

It is painful. I learned that much last week, watching Riley. Hearing Christine. And I have found that I would give a great deal to prevent anything from happening to those I care for. Myself, even.

[He swallows, struggles to breathe.]

It's the very thing I condemned you humans for. Fragility. Weakness in the heart and mind. And yet for all my judgement, here I am. Condemned myself.

[A laugh, bitter and angry.]

Even now, I talk myself in circles without getting to the point.