Greg would always hold Kevin up, no matter what he needed or for how long. He loved him with a strength of feeling he hadn't felt in a long time.
As he spoke Greg's heart went out to him, "I'm so sorry. It isn't just, but it is the way of the world even though it should not be. A slave has as much right to be respected as anybody else. I've never agreed with these archaic rules about beating a slave, it isn't the way to handle things" But it was what happened and Kevin would see more not less of it, though thankfully here it wasn't as common as other places.
"You do not play at anything, you are a wonderful officer who is smarter than at least half those other guys" he pressed a kiss to his neck, seeing the uncomfortableness he was feeling.