He scrunched up his nose at her comment about piglets, "Yeah, well.. I don't like it. Just like it really rides my nuts when people call me a pig, or-or Captain Donut, and other shit like that. You know? Not having any intelligence or not, the asshole still called me a name I fucking can't stand."
He sighed, shaking his head when Leah mentioned that similar things occasionally happened to Brandon. O'Brien rolled his eyes a bit and couldn't help but scoff when Leah started saying things that, oddly enough, sounded like she was taking up for Rodeo. He gave another shake of his head, "I don't know... The guy is capable of a lot. I wouldn't have put it past him." He worried his lip with thought a moment, "I don't know.. I don't think so." He frowned, thinking about it. "I just don't take threats lightly. Especially from morons like that guy, Leah. It pisses me off," alright, alright.. he was just working himself up more. He needed to take it a notch down. Take a deep breath. Count to ten. whatever. Ugh, He reached up to drag his hand down over his face, rubbing at it a bit as he paused to take a bit of a breather. Deep breaths.
"I'm sorry.. I know.. I know you would have. I just.. I wish I'd known. Not.. Not, you know, because I'd change anything, I just wish that I had known. I feel like.. Like if I had, I might have understood everything better." He sighed, dropping his hand down away from his face again with another frustrated shake of his head.
"I'm not mad at you. I promise." And he wasn't. He just felt like he'd been left in the dark, and hadn't even been aware of it until everything came crashing down around him. He felt her fingers move from his collar to the back of his neck, and he didn't care what anyone said, it did help. It was calming. For the most part. Having her near, and having her listen, and having her touching him was soothing in a strange sort way. Something he wasn't really all that used to.
O'Brien's eyes met with hers and he smiled warmly when she agreed to hang onto him, then. "I hope not..." He didn't ever want her to force herself to let go.
He nodded, listening quietly to her words more than anything, "well, like I've said before.. you're a hell of a woman, Leah... I don't think I could do what you do. I mean it." His smile softened as he searched her expression with blue eyes, "your secret is safe with me." He gave her a nod, "and I'll try not to upset you anymore with this. I know my limits." He really did. "I don't know. It just upset me is all. When he threatened all of the people I care about, I couldn't take it anymore. I didn't want to lose you... or Alana or Luke. And your family-- they're like my own." He nodded, "So you're right.. I have more people to stay alive for now, than I ever thought I'd have again... I don't want to lose that. I like being here, now. With you. With Luke. With Alana. And Lilah, and Brandon and Kori. All of you."