Ronan stared at the sunrise, exposed to the sunlight and Gael's words. Mars wanted to argue, as a rule, but particularly in this case. She'd spoken of family, something Ronan understood was paramount to the Murphy orphan. Even worse, Gael's final words, she wanted more. He wasn't an idiot, their relationship certainly had its limits and wasn't ideal. None of those things had mattered in the beginning, there wasn't anything logical about it at the start.
Eternally the pessimist, Ronan had morbidly expected this moment - though that didn't mean the Irishman was ready to accept it. Mars, conflicted enough to cause his actual body to toss and turn, had attempted to channel his mentally ill brain into a constructive line of thought. But it wasn't having any of that. Was he to lash out in anger or use his dark sense of humor to hide his crushed emotions? Or simply deny the request altogether? Ronan wasn't even sure.
"I love you, Gael. Ye're right, ye deserve more than what ye can get tied to me." Quiet dignity and maturity? Ronan had not seen that coming. "C'mere." He pulled the living sweater bunny closer so that they could finish enjoying the sunrise together and so that Gael couldn't see the tears, which had slowly welled up in Mars' eyes. "I don't suppose I could just say 'no'?" he teased and wondered how long that maneuver would have gotten him.