"Everyone falls apart," Aaron tells him, getting his fingers in the feathers. His head is turned in, leaning against the side of Julien's neck. He's not shying away. "You've done a remarkable job controlling when and how for the past two years. It's okay if putting yourself back together takes a little time."

He sighs out a breath. This is a situation he's never handled before, and what he's telling Julien is -- well, uncalculated. There are times Aaron Strider will tell someone what they want to hear, or what they need to hear, or what he needs them to hear. With this, though, he's got so little reference, so little grounding, that he's got no choice but complete honesty.

"I didn't come here to hurry you."