[There's a short huff, but it sounds more like tired defeat than disbelief. Adam almost says it in a way Luke believes it without question. Not-questioning left him at the mercy of being someone else's pawn. Questioning left him at the mercy of being someone's tool. It's a delicate balance, he thinks. But he wants to believe Adam's correct and so he says nothing.
The tightened grip doesn't go unnoticed, but like most things like this he doesn't draw attention to it. Adam is, again, the only one who can get away with this. He mulls on the words quietly, unsure of how to proceed immediately. He blatantly remembers lying bloodied on the throne room floor and asking Annabeth if she loved him. He wasn't really sure what kind of love he'd been inquiring about, though her answer wasn't entirely unexpected either. He had screwed up. He knows that.]
You tryin' to confess something to me here? [It's a very ill-timed joke, he knows, but the way his tone shifts is enough indication that despite the fact he's trying to tease him those words do have the necessary impact. It's something he hadn't thought much on since the day before when so many people had expressed their displeasure with his date with the proximity mine. Had he really somehow fooled all of these people into caring about him on some level? How? Perhaps he should be shamed of admitting these things to an eighteen year old but Adam's become an expert on keeping him at ease.
Of course, his brain kicks in helpfully. 'Adam Parrish was abused and unloved by his parents.' Of course Adam understands what to say.] Wanna know something else? You're also proof that things can get better. [Not just for himself, but for Adam himself.]
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The tightened grip doesn't go unnoticed, but like most things like this he doesn't draw attention to it. Adam is, again, the only one who can get away with this. He mulls on the words quietly, unsure of how to proceed immediately. He blatantly remembers lying bloodied on the throne room floor and asking Annabeth if she loved him. He wasn't really sure what kind of love he'd been inquiring about, though her answer wasn't entirely unexpected either. He had screwed up. He knows that.]
You tryin' to confess something to me here? [It's a very ill-timed joke, he knows, but the way his tone shifts is enough indication that despite the fact he's trying to tease him those words do have the necessary impact. It's something he hadn't thought much on since the day before when so many people had expressed their displeasure with his date with the proximity mine. Had he really somehow fooled all of these people into caring about him on some level? How? Perhaps he should be shamed of admitting these things to an eighteen year old but Adam's become an expert on keeping him at ease.
Of course, his brain kicks in helpfully. 'Adam Parrish was abused and unloved by his parents.' Of course Adam understands what to say.] Wanna know something else? You're also proof that things can get better. [Not just for himself, but for Adam himself.]