[He flinches back from the double's touch. It's an unconscious movement, instinctive and frightened, but the expression on his face doesn't change. His father always hated this, always thought he was sulking or being petulant, because he simply was incapable of understanding that years of his treatment had molded Adam so that his response to fear is to freeze, try to put himself apart from the situation, try to find a way to think himself out. Say the right thing, do the right thing to keep himself safe.
Collapsing into tears was never an option, though he'll do it once it's safe, once he can let his guard down. Fighting was just as unthinkable, and especially is now, faced with something that looks just like the man he loves.
Kiss me, he says, and Adam's stomach twists at the thought of it. He's kissed this creature before, he knows, when he thought it was Ronan. But the idea of doing it now - the idea of kissing the thing that murdered Ronan, it's almost unthinkable. And he's sure it's only trying to toy with him, trying to get under his skin. It's not like Ronan, it's not an inherently honest person.]
I don't believe you.
[If it's true, will Adam do it? He doesn't know. Maybe it would be worth it, to get this thing away from him, to be safe - or as safe as he can be, knowing it's out there. But that would set it loose on the rest of the city, and Adam fears what consequences that might have.
Could he do it? He doesn't know that either. It looks like Ronan. Right now, it's touching him like Ronan might, its voice is familiar, the soft tones that remind him of Ronan in their bed at night, whispering in his ear. He might be able to pretend. He isn't sure.]
no subject
Collapsing into tears was never an option, though he'll do it once it's safe, once he can let his guard down. Fighting was just as unthinkable, and especially is now, faced with something that looks just like the man he loves.
Kiss me, he says, and Adam's stomach twists at the thought of it. He's kissed this creature before, he knows, when he thought it was Ronan. But the idea of doing it now - the idea of kissing the thing that murdered Ronan, it's almost unthinkable. And he's sure it's only trying to toy with him, trying to get under his skin. It's not like Ronan, it's not an inherently honest person.]
I don't believe you.
[If it's true, will Adam do it? He doesn't know. Maybe it would be worth it, to get this thing away from him, to be safe - or as safe as he can be, knowing it's out there. But that would set it loose on the rest of the city, and Adam fears what consequences that might have.
Could he do it? He doesn't know that either. It looks like Ronan. Right now, it's touching him like Ronan might, its voice is familiar, the soft tones that remind him of Ronan in their bed at night, whispering in his ear. He might be able to pretend. He isn't sure.]