Gabriel's knees are always (skinned) wrote in rooms,
Re: House of Strays: Ronan/Ben
[Even without that spotlight of empathetic awareness shining into the depths of Ben's mind, he knows. He doesn't hold it against Ben, that initial comparison between him and the things that Liam did. He'd hated it at first, of course, and the way that it'd made his throat burn with a rising bile and sickness and just layer upon layer of guilt, but the days apart had helped Ronan to understand that it wasn't fair to judge anyone for their gut reactions in the face of hurting.
He is still, curled on the couch with his head resting against his knees (like that night almost a year ago, when he'd sat on the floor of their bedroom when it was still just Ben's, asking about things that he had no business asking), but he wants nothing more than to reach and touch and hold. Instead he has to settle for nodding, as he swallows hard.]
I understand. And I know you didn't have to come back here, and explain that to me. But - [He sucks his lips in so that they're pressed in a thin line, trying so bloody hard to reign in the strife of his emotions. He's desperate not to do anything that might make Ben feel worse, or more conflicted, when he's being so kind and it's so much more than Ronan feels that he deserves.] It means a lot to me that you did, Ben. More than I can explain, even.