Ronan knew that the conversation with Kiernan would be the most difficult part. Mars didn't want to leave his family and that was no more evident than when he looked into the his older brother's light eyes. Which explained why Ronan had generally avoided it.
"A mystery destination that's dangerous an' miserable and ye have no details about where or for how long?"
"Yup." Probably the most remote realm the Allfather's umbrella covered, Ronan wasn't jazzed.
When Kiernan mentioned Earth, Ronan shook his head gently and buried his hands deeper into his pockets. Without a reason to be there, he'd just wither away and die. The Irishman was rudderless. Then Grasp brought Gael into this and forced Ronan to remember exactly why he'd walked into Nate's office.
"I'm not back now." Mars told his brother, "I'm a fuckin' shell." He'd been leaned against the counter, but Ronan's posture improved but only to become more defensive. "I crossed a line... a line ye don't come back from." He didn't regret his relationship with Gael, but he'd understood it had been a one way street. "She's gone, she'll move on and live a real life." Mars added with confidence and stopped to breathe only to control his emotions. "I don't even know how to move on. I don't think I get to, not without hittin' bottom." Ronan explained though he doubted it would make any sense. Somehow, he felt like this wasn't quite bottom yet. "Besides, ye can't fuckin' get rid of me." Mars smirked, eyes bloodshot and narrowed. "I'm yer curse," the Irishman said with a chuckle.